Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: March 13, 2009

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What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?

Life Muses by Ro: ScrapSimple Paper Templates as Wallpaper?

Do you think we used ScrapSimple Paper Templates as wallpaper?

Of course, we didn’t, but when it came time to fix up Julianne’s room, I allowed her to pick out what she wanted. Imagine my surprise when she cruised around the Internet and picked out some wallpaper that looks just like a ScrapSimple Paper Template!

Then she picked her blue–ish green wall color. When I saw the sample, I told her that it reminded me of a swimming pool. We had a few words on the topic, but she won. I decided the worst that could happen was that we would have to buy a couple of gallons of paint and cover it up.

But I was wrong and she was right. She has created a striking room and the artwork she already owned (the Beatles poster and Audrey Hepburn print), add to the funky mood she was trying to create.

The bed frame is a family heirloom. It belonged to my husband’s great–grandmother. We rescued it one happy day when we caught Gary’s dad putting it in the back of his truck because he wanted to donate it to a second–hand store. We told him that we wanted it and he said we could have it if we took it that day. We did and here it is after hauling it all over the United States and painting it multiple times, we paid someone to sand it down and make it nice.

I had to make a layout of her room once we finished it. Inspired by Julianne, I decided to use a “raw” ScrapSimple Paper Template on top of another paper. I think it’s cool and is very trendy � just like her!

Have a great weekend,

Computer scrapbook layout by Ro

Layout by Ro
larger view



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Greenhouse 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 Scrapbook Tutorial: Creating Realistic Distortions

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

The ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Warped 8201 Mini was designed to help you create realistic looking distortions for your digital scrapbooking papers as well as titles, journaling and drop shadows, to mimic the natural texture and depth of the background.

NOTE: Please make sure that you load the actions set which was created for your computer system. If you are a Windows user, you have to create a specifically named folder on your C drive before you run the action for the first time. Please refer to the instructions for further details.

ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Warped 8201 Mini is great to create interesting titles for your pages. To begin, create a new document (12x12 inches at 300 dpi) and drag a photograph onto that document. Even if your camera shoots only 72 dpi pictures, Photoshop will convert the photo to 300 dpi. I decided to make my title look as if it were written on my daughter’s hand.

Type your text onto your photo. Rotate it if necessary.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial: Text on photo.

Before running ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Warped 8201 Mini, change the font color. This pinkish color lies on the opposite side of the color wheel of the teal color I want to get. You will obtain it again after you change the Blend Mode to “Difference.”

Before running ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Warped 8201 Mini, make sure that your title layer is selected (highlighted). You do not need to rasterize the type; the action does it for you.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial: Change color of text.

Now, run action three, change the Blend Mode to “Difference” and then apply ScrapSimple Tools � Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie. The texture of the photo shows through to give it a realistic look.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial: Run action and style.

Have fun with realistic photo effects in your layouts with these actions!

Computer scrapbook layout by Ariadna Wiczling

Layout by Ariadna Wiczling
larger view





Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Warped PS 8201 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Warped PSE 8201 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Felt, Dynamic Brush Set: Paper Piercing 8201, Dynamic Brush Set: Doodle Borders 5401, Brush Set: Paint Stroke and Lettering Delights Slender Font are also available.

Brandy Murry

Tutorial written by Ariadna Wiczling

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

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!

Leaving Love Chat
Tuesday, March 17th - 2:00PM ET

Join Becca at 2pm ET for this month’s Leaving Love Chat. Bring a layout of your own and a few from the gallery to share with us, and we’ll spend the hour leaving love and working on our Gallery Posting Challenge goals together!

New Member Chat – Early Edition
Tuesday, March 17th - 3:00PM ET

Join April (April Showers) at 3:00 PM ET for a fun chat to get to know our newest members. We will discuss the message board, gallery, chocolate and so much more! Everyone is welcome, new or not so new! Not sure how to get there? Just click the “Chat Room” button at the top of this newsletter; you will need JavaScript enabled to access the chat room.

ScrapGirls 52 Chat
Tuesday, March 17th - 8:00PM ET

Calling all SG 52 participants and anyone else who wants to join in or learn more about it! Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Becca at 8pm ET (that�s 5pm for those of you on the west coast!) for this month’s ScrapGirls 52 Chat. We’ll discuss more ways to keep this challenge fresh and fun, as well as a list of products in the boutique to help your layouts come together with this month’s theme in mind. It’s never too late to join, so we hope to see you there!

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 Trish Yochum

Layout by Trish Yochum
larger view

Designer Freebie by Amanda McGee coordinates with her Jake and Emma Collection Biggie, part of this month's Scrap Girls Club offering!



Commercial license versions of Lettering Delights Mother's Typewriter Font and Lettering Delights Graphite Font 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