Note from Ro: I had to show you this post I found on the Scrap Girls Digital Adventures Blog. Besides having a lot of great ideas in it, Marnie is very witty. It’s a fun read!

Marnie Adams

Entering the San Diego Zoo, you pretty much stumble upon the large flamingo exhibit... it would be very hard to miss. On our recent visit there, I took nearly two full memory cards of photos and had fun putting together a layout dedicated to our pretty pink pals.

Layout by Marnie Adams
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Commercial license versions of Lettering Delights Architect Font are also available.

It got me thinking... what are some ways to incorporate themes related to our fine feathered friends into digital scrapbooking? Here are a few ideas for titles or captions:

Birds of a Feather
Egg-stra! Egg-stra!
Egg-cellent!
Fine Feathered Friends (that one was so obvious, I almost left it out!)
A Little Birdie Told Me...
Butterfly Kisses
Winging It
Green Eggs & Ham (or Purple Eggs & Turkey - have fun with it)
On a Wing and a Prayer
Feathering Our Nest
Our Nest Egg
Sweet Tweet
Fair or Fowl

When I am making layouts about birds or butterflies, here are a few of the great related products available at Scrap Girls:

Feathered Friends Collection
Young At Heart Collection Biggie
Doodle Darling Collection Biggie
Feather Collection
Colors of Spring Collection
Skin Deep Collection Biggie
Watercolor Florals Collection
Sweet Love Collection Mini
Love Birds Collection
Digital Stickers: Chickadees
Hoo Loves Ya Collection Biggie
SummerTime Collection
Bird Legs Collection Mini
Renew Collection Biggie
Having Hope Collection Biggie
Charlotte Collection
Air Mail Collection
Altered State Collection Biggie
A Different Color Collection Mini

Just for giggles and grins, here are a couple of funnies...

Why did the Scrap Girl cross the road? Because she was stapled to a chicken!

Why did the flamingo cross the road? So he could reach his lifelong goal of being a lawn ornament.

Did you like my little “yolks”? It’s okay; you can say it... not eggs-actly!

- Marnie

SCRAP GIRLS CLUB

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:

1 Collection Biggie
1 Paper Super Mini
1 8.5x11 Sheet of Word Art
1 Embellishment Set
1 Assemble Your Own Zoom Page Set
1 Designer's Choice Item

Layout by Brandy Murry using July's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Brandy Murry

If you prefer not to join a club, the Scrap Girls 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 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!

SCRAPSIMPLE CLUB

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:

1 ScrapSimple Paper Template Set
1 ScrapSimple Embellishment or Word Art Template Set
1 Brush Set
2 Designer's Choice Items

A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple club is also available here.

Layout by Trish Yochum using July's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Trish Yochum and Theresa Kavouras

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!

ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.

If you like the ability to customize your embellishments, ScrapSimple Layer Own Brushes are the products for you. Don't let the prospect of layering all those brushes intimidate you. Trust me, not only are ScrapSimple Layer Own Brushes easy and fun to use, they add a little something extra special to your layout! Each set comes with several brushes that are designed to be layered on top of each other in different combinations. You can also apply styles, clip your brushed layers with your favorite digital papers and use Blending Modes. Aside from ABR files, they also come in individual PNG files, if you prefer to work with those instead. There are many ScrapSimple Layer Own Brushes in the boutique to suit your fancy.

For today's tutorial, I am using Melanie Johnson's ScrapSimple Layer Own Brushes: 4x6-Date Frame. For this example, I prefer working with PNG files. I first open the MJO_SSLYO_4x6DateFrame_base.png, which serves as the base of my frame. If you choose to work with the ABR files, just make sure you stamp each component of your frame on its own layer to enable you to move, resize, apply styles or make any changes to an individual component of the brush.

Next, select File> Place and then MJO_SSLYO_4x6DateFrame_months-ver.png. I fill this with white (Edit> Fill Layer> White) and position it on the left side of my frame. I do the same thing to add the days of the months brush (MJO_SSLYO_4x6DateFrame_days-ver.png) to the right side of my frame.

The brush set also comes with a pointer arrow, a tab and a choice of circles and ovals to highlight specific days and months. I layer some of these and fill them with my desired color.

Then, I add the year brush, type my son's name and highlight that with an oval brush, also from the brush set.

At this point, you may want to apply your choice of styles or clip a paper onto your frame base. For this particular layout, I like it as is. I love the bold, graphic look of black and the way it gives focus to my son's photo as well as documents the date of the event.

The last step is to merge all the layers together (Layer> Merge Visible) and drag them onto my layout. That's all there is to it! Now, wasn't that easy? Here is my finished layout.

Layout by Armi Custodio
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: 4x6 - Date Frame, Dynamic Brush Set: Dashed 8201, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501, Brush Set: Chillin and Brush Set: Grungelle are also available.

Article written by Armi Custodio

FREE STARTER KIT

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!

Ready to Take Off? In-depth Tutorials Help You Become a Great Digital Scrapbooker

Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop CS4, CS3, CS2, and CS
NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 6.0 and 7.0*
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro X (XI)

(*Have Photoshop Elements 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, or 5.0? We have a tutorial program that will work for you. Please visit the product details page for more information.)

Find out what tens of thousands of people have already learned: Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed is the fastest way to learn how to create digital scrapbooking layouts. And because this series covers so many topics with one purchase, it is a bargain!

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!

Download and CD versions available.

Photoshop and Photoshop Elements users receive:

30-31 movie tutorials
Companion eBook(s)
Collections
Other supplies

Paint Shop Pro users receive 31 movie tutorials.

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop
MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop Elements

It's time for you to stop playing catch-up in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and start having a blast creating your own digital scrapbooking supplies! You'll also learn all sorts of tricks that professionals and advanced digital scrapbookers use in their layouts. And because Ro covers so many topics in the series, it is one of the most cost-effective methods of moving your skills to a higher level. Join in with the thousands of digital scrapbookers who have chosen to learn advanced skills from Ro. You'll be happy that you did!

Note: These are NOT beginning tutorials. If you get this training and you have never used Photoshop or Photoshop Elements before, or if you aren't pretty sure of yourself in the software, you are going to be lost. You simply have to understand layers, where things are located, and all of the basic, important skills that Ro teaches in her Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed series before you try to use it.

eBooks

Scrap Girls offers a large catalog of eBooks covering topics that will expand your digital scrapbooking abilities to new heights. Here are just a few samples:

The Virtual Canvas eBook

What happens when you move digital scrapbooking beyond the basic page? What happens when you allow the layout to blur the edges between keepsake and art? The Virtual Canvas: Celebrating The Art of Digital Scrapbooking eBook will provide those answers for you.

Digital Photography Simplified

Colour (me) Creative eBook with 36 color swatches

Scrapbooking 911 - 20 Sketches to Revialize Your Digital

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: Making a Just Because Card Using ScrapSimple Card Templates

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!

See more titles

Layout by Theresa Kavouras
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Designer Freebie by Theresa Kavouras coordinates with her ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Folds 4,
part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Game Day Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Folds 4 and ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Score Pad 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.

CROPS AND CHATS

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, July 23rd - 4:00PM ET

What is NSBR? It's a non-scrapbooking related chat! We talk about everything, including some scrapbooking and usually chocolate. It's a great chance to meet new friends, catch up on what everyone is up to, and just relax! If you have a problem, we'll lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on. Have some great news to share? We'd love to celebrate with you. Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Shari (Shari PV Mom) at 4pm ET in the chat room lobby! Hope to see you there!

Ad Inspiration Chat
Thursday, July 23rd - 9:00PM ET

Join Pat (PBarnes) on Thursday, July 23 at 9pm ET for an Ad Challenge and Chat. A few hours before the chat, a magazine ad will be posted on the message board to use as inspiration for a layout. You can use whatever you want to from the ad - the colors, the shapes, the composition. There are no wrong answers!

What's New Chat
Friday, July 24th - 11:00AM ET

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry Lynn at 11am ET Friday morning to chat about all the cool new things in the boutique. You never know who else is going to show up! 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!

Swap Crop Chat
Friday, July 24th - 9:00PM ET

It's time for the Swap Crop Chat! We've done the swapping, and created the layouts, now it's time to chat about all the gorgeous layouts! I don't know what it is, but these swaps bring out the best in everyone. This is the time to chat about the theme, the beautiful layouts and learn about the swap crop if you haven't participated before. Join Carla (CRS) for a fun chat at 9pm ET on Friday, July 24th!

Aussie Chat & Challenge
Monday, July 27th - 9:00PM Australian Eastern Time

Please join Jo (scrappingjo) and Karen (kazbar73) on Monday 27 July for our next edition of the Aussie Chat and Challenge. We will meet in the Chat Rom Lobby at 9.00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time for a Template Challenge. Look through your stash of Scrap Girls products and find your favourite template or maybe look through the Boutique and find a new template. Use that template to create a layout then and than join us in the chat room. For our International ladies, the chat will start at 7am New York time.

Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, July 28th - 3:00PM ET

Please join Sherry_Lynn on July 28th at 3pm ET for the next installment of our Life Moments Chat and Crop! These crops are about building a scrapbook all about you, one layout at a time. I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

JULY EVENTS

July Message Board Game: Hide and Seek!

Join us this month on the Message Board for a month long game of “Hide and Seek!” The designers have each chosen their favorite product that they've designed and it's your task to find each one! Every day from July 1-31 a member of the Welcoming Committee will post up a designer's name (or two!) and a clue to their personal favorite product that they've designed. You'll get a special peek into the minds and inspiration of the Scrap Girls designers as you search for their favorites contained in the boutique. When you find the correct product, you'll know it because a special little sunny marker will be waiting for you to let you know “You found it!”

Compile a list of links to the correct products throughout the month and send the list to [email protected] by August 1st at 11:59 p.m. (MST) for your chance to win a prize! Everyone who finds all THIRTY-SEVEN products will have their name added into a drawing for one of seven $5 gift certificates to the Scrap Girls boutique! Happy hunting, enjoy getting to know your designers and HAVE FUN!

Layout Contests:

July Monthly Layout Contest: In the good ole summertime, we see lots of lightning. Summertime also brings out the fun side of friends and family members. For the July Monthly Layout Contest, we want to see your layouts featuring photos of lightning or scrap someone with an electric personality! Post your layouts in the July Monthly Layout Contest Gallery before July 31st at Midnight, EDT. The winning layout will receive a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Be sure to include the credits for items used in the description area or under the Details tab.

July Mid-Month Layout Contest: Ah, vacations! They're so relaxing and fun, but can be expensive, too. For the Mid-July Layout Contest, we want to see your layouts featuring your vacation or staycation photos! If you don't have any vacation plans, what will you do instead? Scrap those plans! Post you layouts in the Mid-July Monthly Layout Gallery before August 15th at Midnight, EDT and you could win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique. Be sure to include the credits for items used in the description area or under the Details tab. 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.)