Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: March 11, 2009

Occasionally, email clients or Internet Service Providers have email delivery issues that are beyond our control. If you are having issues reading the newsletter or viewing any of the images, you may find it is easier to read the web page version. It is available here:
http://www.scrapgirls.com/NL/Chit_Chat_090311_Wed_Sleep.htm

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?

Computer scrapbook layout by Shalae Tippetts

Layout by Shalae Tippetts
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Stamped Dates and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Aged Frames are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Angie Briggs

Layout by Angie Briggs
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Multiple Photo 4 are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Syndee Nuckles

Layout by Syndee Nuckles
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Witty, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Photos 6301 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Folds 5001 are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Caroline Kaiser

Layout by Caroline Kaiser
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Colors of Spring, Brush Set: Ink Stain, Brush Set: Sketchbook Pencil Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Beautiful Distress, Brush Set: Grungelle and Lettering Delights Mother's Typewriter Font are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Angie Briggs

Layout by Angie Briggs
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Computer scrapbook layout by Ariadna Wiczling

Layout by Ariadna Wiczling
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PS 8201, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PSE 8201, Brush Set: Stamp A Date and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super 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: Sleep is a Pilot

Sleep is a pilot whose passengers arrive at his doorway burdened, tired, and emotionally charged. Sleep takes the cares of his charges and uses them as background material for the in–flight movies he so lovingly provides. Sleep relaxes muscles, soothes brows, and wipes down the trouble-counter until it glistens with solutions. When Sleep delivers his children to Morning, he quietly slips into the light and waits until it is his turn once more.

I went to bed last night with a whirling mind, an aching back, and fingers drawn up into knots. I awoke this morning with answers to problems, visions of clarity on issues, a relaxed back and free fingers.

What a blessing it is that we do not have to work and interact twenty–four hours a day. What a blessing it is that our creator understood that our bodies and minds need respite from heavy cares and torrents of information. What a blessing it is that whenever we have worn ourselves out, we can slip into the arms of Sleep.

- Ro

Computer scrapbook layout by Ro

Layout by Ro
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Dreamy Photos 6301 Mini and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Gold 5401 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 Soozlou, mtorres_usa, and teabaglady!

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial: Hand Cut Paper

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0 with Windows Vista.

The one thing I love about digital scrapbooking layouts and creating them is how perfect everything is. There’s no re–cutting paper because you didn’t cut straight on the line or because your circle is lop–sided. But, then again, that’s something I miss about my old paper layouts – the touches of imperfection.

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how you can easily create that hand–cut look on all of your photos or Scrap Girls papers.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Open new document.

First, open a new document. Next, with your Rectangle Shape Tool or Custom Shape Tool, add a shape to this new document.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Open Wave Filter.

Now, with the shape layer selected, go to Filter> Distort> Wave. If you get a message that the layer must be simplified, choose “Yes” and then continue. These are some of the basic settings you’ll want to try:

Type: Sine
Wavelength Maximum: 999
Horizontal and Vertical: 100%

The settings below will all change the look of the shape. Play around with these to get some different looks. Here are the settings that I used to get the shape below:

Number of Generators: 5
Wavelength Minimum: 80
Amplitude Minimum: 3
Amplitude Maximum: 15

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Apply changes.

Click “OK” to apply these changes to your shape.

Another thing you can do to make a quick change to your shape is to click the “Randomize” button.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Drag paper onto layout.

Once you have distorted your shape the way you want it, pull the template over to your layout. You’re now ready to add papers to the shape. I’m using Erica’s Bouncing Baby Boy Collection papers. I resize it, drag it over to my layout and place in on the layer above the template piece.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Clipping mask.

Then, with your paper layer active, Ctrl+G to mask it to your template. (If you are using Photoshop CS2 or above, it’s Ctrl+Alt+G.)

Try this technique on different shapes or even photos to add that special hand–cut look.

Computer scrapbook layout by Angie Briggs

Layout by Angie Briggs
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Journal Bits are also available.

Angie Briggs

Tutorial written by Angie Briggs

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, 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!

ScrapSimple Club Chat
Sunday, March 15th - 3:00PM ET

Come join Sherry_Lynn on Sunday March 15th at 3 PM EST for a ScrapSimple Club Chat/Crop! We'll be discussing ideas on different ways to use the current club. As a challenge, let�s create one or more layouts using February's ScrapSimple Club before the next one arrives. Amanda Sok & Kerry Veale will be joining us for this ScrapSimple Club Chat! It�s sure to be a blast! Hope to see you there!

Quote Challenge Chat
Sunday, March 15th - 8:00PM ET

Come join Pat (PBarnes) for the Quote Challenge Crop at 8 PM ET! 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 in the gallery. Then we'll meet in the chat room to have fun, chat, and create our Word Art layout!

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.)

Today's Freebie

Computer scrapbook layout by Kerry Veale

Layout by Kerry Veale
larger view

Designer Freebie by Kerry Veale coordinates with her ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Vintage Millinery Flowers, part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Vintage Millinery Flowers, ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Fragments, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Florid Overlays and Brush Set: 4x6 Florid Ink 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