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You can’t fight it any longer because we’re having a SALE! This is your chance to BUY your favorite digital scrapbooking supplies at a discount. Come on... you know you want to do it. After all, this is a SALE! But you need to hurry, because it’s all over at Midnight, MST, March 14th. |
What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique? |
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Life Muses by Ro: Conversation with Wisdom |
“What did I do today?” I ask myself, filled with guilt. “I’m such a slacker. I didn’t work on my big project at all. And I didn’t exercise, or clean the microwave, or wipe down the monitor, or...”
“Wait,” wisdom countered. “Why are you thinking about what you didn’t do today? Why not make a list of what you accomplished?”
Chagrined, I responded, “You’re right. Okay, I’ll take the challenge. What did I do today? I feel like I didn’t do anything at all.”
“You put together two weeks of muses and three layouts. You arranged for your daughter to go to the doctor. You fed yourself. You took care of your dog. You answered a lot of email. You wrote several blog posts. You took care of issues with the website. You released new product in the Boutique. You spent the evening with your family.”
“I did all of that?” I thought, amazed.
“Yes, you did,” wisdom replied. “And you had several phone conversations and a meeting with a contractor, too.”
“Yes, that’s true,” I thought. “And I made some posts on Facebook, read family blogs, and sent messages back and to with a nephew.”
“It sounds like you did a lot today,” Wisdom said. “Isn’t it time you stopped counting your failures instead of feeling good about your successes?”
I sighed. “Yes, it is. But if I know myself, I won’t remember this conversation tomorrow. I do have this annoying habit...”
“Of being hard on yourself?”
“Yes,” I replied. “Wisdom, will you do me a favor?”
“Sure. What can I do for you?”
“Will you meet me here tomorrow night? Just in case I need your help?”
“Of course,” Wisdom said. “Helping you is what I do best. Now, if I could just get you to give up chocolate, my mission here would be complete....”
- 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! |
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Best of the Message Board |
Question: I’ve been using Photoshop CS3 for almost a year and I love it, but I find that there are so many amazing features to apply to my scrapbook pages that I don’t know what I don’t know. Like tonight, I just figured out how to flip/rotate my brushes. Finally! I would love to hear your favorite feature, tip or discovery in CS3 that you apply to your scrapbook pages. I’m sure it will bring about an “a–ha” moment for me!
Answer 1: Ctrl+J and Ctrl+Shift+J are my favorite key combinations! Ctrl+J will take a selection and put it on a new layer, via a copy (meaning the original remains the same). Ctrl+Shift+J will take a selection and cut it and put it on a new layer (meaning the original now has that selection missing).
Answer 2: Changing the font preview list to “Huge.” I love that!
Answer 3: I like File> Place to put your elements, papers, etc., on your layout. It automatically names the layer on your Layers Palette the name of your file! This saves so much time!
Answer 4: Wow, this thread ROCKS! I just upgraded to CS3 a few months ago and I’ve already learned two new things from this! My favorite little thing is creating a new layer from my drop shadow. (Right–click on the drop shadow and choose “Create Layer.”) Then, you can use the Warp Tool or Move Tool to get the shadow looking just right.
Answer 5: What a great thread to start! I am going to learn some cool new things from this I’m sure! I love previewing the fonts big as well. That was a great find for me. I also love how you can dock things to the Layers Palette and not have to go hunting for them. You could probably do this in other versions, but I only discovered it once I got CS3. Keep the discoveries coming! This is great.
Answer 6: I love learning the keystroke commands so I don’t have to go to drop–downs and menus so often. The ones I use most often are:
- Ctrl+Alt+G – Create a clipping mask
- Ctrl+J – Copy a layer
- Ctrl+D – Deselect
- Ctrl+Shift+I – Select inverse
- Ctrl+E – Merge down
I also recently learned how to create an action, which has saved me a lot of time in a few things I do often. (For example, resizing photos to web quality for my blog. What used to take about 15 clicks to accomplish now takes one. Yeah for time saving!)
Answer 7: Change the font preview to huge with Preferences> Type> Font Preview Size. But, I want to know about the “docking things to your Layers Palette.” I am not sure what that means. I also want to know how to create a layer by right–clicking on your drop shadow. Do you mean the drop shadow that you apply in the Styles Palette? Or something else?
Answer 8: Ticking and unticking the Auto Select button. This can help you identify which little embellishment is where on your Layers Palette. This saves a lot of looking when you have many layers. Having the option to shut it down is useful because you can keep selecting things you didn’t intend to and that can be frustrating. Ctrl+G helps organize your layers into groups. The File> File Info option puts all of your supplies into Meta Data for uploading. This saves a lot of hassle.
Answer 9: On the Layers Palette, where the styles that have been applied to the layer show up, right–click on drop shadow and you will see an option to make a layer. It gives you a warning, but just click “OK.” Where the stuff is docked, when you go to window and open one of the Palettes, then just drag it over there and it will dock there for future use. I keep all of mine there!
Answer 10: I have another one I just accidentally found. I love it when that happens! If you right–click on an element on your layout, it will give you a list of layers to choose from. This makes it easy to find the layer that you’re working on!
Answer 11: When you have linked layers, you can temporarily unlink one or more layers by Shift+Clicking on the chain icon. A red X appears. To re–link them, just Shift+Click on the icon again.
For even more ideas or to add your own you can find this thread on our message board! |
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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 |
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!
ATC – Mixed Media Chat
Saturday, March 14th - 3:00PM ET
Do you loved mixed media? Ever wondered what it is exactly or about giving it a try? Love to exchange cards through snail mail? Then this crop is for you. Break out your creative thoughts, your favorite SG's supplies, some paper, pens, and whatever else comes to mind.
Join Sherry Lynn on Saturday at 3 PM EST for our first ever Mixed Media ATC crop and swap.
Recipe Challenge Chat
Saturday, March 14th - 9:00PM ET
Join April (April Showers) and Danna (scrappylibrarian) in the Chat Room Saturday, March 14th at 9 PM ET for our monthly Recipe Challenge Chat where we share and scrap our favorite recipes. Check the message board on Thursday morning for this month's theme and Recipe Swap details. Hope to see you there!
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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!
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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.) |
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Layout by Keri Schueller
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Designer Freebie by Keri Schueller coordinates with her Organica Collection
* 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. |
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Conversation with Wisdom
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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- 16.7% off Hypnotized Sale!
- What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?
- Life Muses by Ro
- Best of the Message Board
- What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
- Designer Freebie
- 2009 Digital Scrap Link Convention Information!
- Getting Started
- Expand Your Skills
- Online Classes Currently Available
- Scrap Girls Clubs
- Ongoing Opportunities for YOU |
The Scrap Girls newsletter is created for you by a virtual army of Scrap Girls team members. Without them, we couldn't possibly share these resources with you, and I'm very grateful for their ongoing help and support.
I hope you enjoy today's issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
Ro
CEO - Scrap Girls, LLC
P.S. Your email address is safe with us. We never share, rent, sell, or loan our list with anyone!
P.P.S. If you ever need any assistance, please email [email protected] or call
866-598-3444 and we'll help you as quickly as possible!
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Scrap Girls is Having a Convention! |
Here are the facts:
When: October 8-10th, 2009
Note: Convention begins at 1:00 pm - Thursday, October 8th and ends at 6 pm - Saturday, October 10th.
How many people may attend? We've already sold more than one-third of the available spots after only one week of being on sale! Don't miss out on this opportunity - secure your place now!
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah
Sign up now!
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Free eBook “starter kit” turns your dreams of digital scrapbooking into reality today!
This dynamite eBook is 65 pages - packed full of the information, ideas, and help people need when they are about to dive into this great hobby. It answers all of the important questions new digital scrapbookers have. They are all here for you - in one easy to use eBook!
Bonus! Download the free “Warning” Label, too. It was created for you by Valerie Randall as a little bit of extra fun!
Would you like a chance to try digital scrapbooking yourself?
Scrap Girls' Refresh Collection Biggie offers you free samples of some of our most popular product types. Try making a layout, your own paper with a ScrapSimple Paper Template, a fast layout with a ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template, or experiment with a brush.
We know you'll love digital scrapbooking as much as we do, and we have thousands of products to feed your new addiction!
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 6.0 and 7.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 5.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 4.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 3.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed (Photoshop 7, CS, CS2 and CS3)
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro (PSP) X
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro (PSP) 9
Do you wish you could learn how to scrapbook digitally, but feel kind of intimated? Well, here's the solution for you! This large set of video tutorials allow you to actually watch Ro scrapbook. And because Ro covers such a large number of topics in this item, it is one of the most cost-effective digital scrapbooking tutorial series available today. No wonder tens of thousands of people have chosen Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed as their method of learning to scrapbook digitally!
In the tutorials, you'll see Ro working on her computer and hear her talking about why she is doing what she is doing. It's like having Ro come to your home and give you private scrapbooking lessons. You can create digital scrapbooking layouts today!
Start to Finish eBooklets
Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: How to Make a Birthday Scrapbook Page
Nothing could be simpler than learning to scrapbook digitally with Scrap Girls Start to Finish eBooklets. Step by step written guidelines and detailed screenshots will help you learn new digital scrapbooking skills. Included with the eBooklet are the actual digital files you need to create a finished project!
More Titles Available |
Ten Beginner Tips On Type
Saturdays, March 14 and 21 - 11:00AM ET
This in-depth digital scrapbooking class is a wonderful opportunity to learn the basics of typography. Learn simple rules and guidelines to use multiple fonts together more effectively. Discuss different ways to make journaling and title a cohesive part of every layout. Study real examples, and see how applying the rules can improve your layouts.
Photo Fixes You Need to Know
Mondays, March 16 and 23 - 7:00PM ET
This in-depth digital scrapbooking class on basic photo retouching is the perfect opportunity to learn about color correction and photo refinement techniques. Using various methods, this class will teach you how to retouch and prep photos for printing, digital scrapbooking, and web uploading. |
Join the Scrap Girls Monthly Club and you can have fun with the newest traditional digital and printable scrapbooking looks while saving! (A $27.94 value for $9.99 or less!)
The Scrap Girls Club contents are released on the 1st day of the month (or the closest business day to the 1st).
With the Scrap Girls Club, you will receive:
Layout by Amanda McGee using March's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Amanda McGee
Remember, these items are available separately in the Boutique at regular prices for those who would rather not join a club.
Note: The Scrap Girls Club contents are always available for sale elsewhere in the Boutique at their regular prices once the associated club month is released. But all club contents are totally brand new, never seen before product releases for each month! |
Join the ScrapSimple Monthly Club and you can enjoy the newest ScrapSimple looks while saving! (A $13.95 value for $6.99 or less!)
The new ScrapSimple Club contents are released on the 15th day of the month (or the closest business day to the 15th).
With the ScrapSimple Club, you will receive:
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1 ScrapSimple Paper Template Set
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1 ScrapSimple Embellishment Template Set
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1 Brush Set
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1 ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brush Set
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1 Designer's Choice Item
A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple club is also available here.
Layout by Kerry Veale using February's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Amanda Sok and Kerry Veale
If you prefer not to join a club, the ScrapSimple club contents are available at regular prices in the Boutique. You can easily find them right now by checking the What's New? section of the Boutique.
Note: The ScrapSimple Club contents are always available for sale in the Boutique at regular prices once the associated club month is released. But all club contents are totally brand new, never-seen-before product releases for each month! |
Customer Muses: Would you like to share your own Life Muse with our readers? To have your own essay considered for publication as a muse in the column for our special Saturday newsletter, send your essay to [email protected]. If your essay is selected, you will receive a $20 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique.
Way Cool Scrap Girl: We are so excited to have all of you meet some of the amazing people that have become Scrap Girls! If you would like to be spotlighted and win a $25 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique, send the following items to [email protected]:
- 500-900 word essay about your experience with digital scrapbooking, Scrap Girls, and specific examples of how we have helped you.
- A 600-pixel wide, 72 dpi copy of a layout you've created that uses Scrap Girls products, plus a complete list of those products.
- A 100-pixels wide, 72 dpi picture of yourself.
- Permission to use your statement.
Club Concepts: We would like to announce that we will be looking for your help in creating these Club Concepts articles. 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!
Suggest a Challenge, Win a Prize! Have a great idea for a gallery layout challenge? Submit it to [email protected]. If your challenge idea is chosen, you will win a prize! Friday will be Customer Challenge Day, so keep an eye out on the message board calendar. It will be fun to see what YOU come up with for us to do!
 Scrap Girls is giving away birthday gifts to our message board members! Of course, it is a surprise what you will get because birthday presents are always surprises! But you will like it for sure because most people like money... Anyway, make sure your message board email address is current and that you have the correct date entered into your profile to participate.
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