Note from Heidi: While helping someone on the Scrap Girls Message Board the other day, I realized just how far I've come in developing my graphic arts and digital scrapbooking skills. My first paid graphic design-type job was for the University of Utah's Physics Department. They had a grant for an outreach program and needed someone to create the website: Graphics, HTML coding, layout design, and everything! I knew HTML and had some basic knowledge of working with graphics in Paint Shop Pro, plus I had an "in" with the program (I was dating their lead Java programmer!), so they hired me.

My first day there, I was plunked down in front of a computer with Paint Shop Pro 3 and told to get to work. It wasn't until months later and an upgrade to PSP4 that I finally realized there was such a thing as layers, and that I could use those to create graphics for making web buttons look like they were being pushed down when the mouse moved over them! These layers gave me huge amounts of creative freedom, and I used them even when I probably didn't need to. What a great discovery!

In the spirit of small beginning steps, I offer this essential tutorial by Angie Briggs. If you don't know this technique yet, I hope the tutorial gives you a new sense of freedom and opens huge realms of creativity for you! If you do already know this trick, take a moment and think back to when you didn't. Maybe make a page about how you started in this hobby! I know it was all baby steps for me.

Have fun learning!

Using Clipping Masks with ScrapSimple Digital Scrapbooking Layout Templates

This free digital scrapbooking tutorial was created using Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 with Windows, but should be able to be adapted easily to other systems. If you have questions about how to do this, just ask on our Message Board!

Open a new 12x12-inch 300 dpi document.

Drag the solid black template layer onto this new document. Here, I am using the ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Curvy.

Next, drag your choice of pattern paper over to this new document. Make sure your pattern is on the layer above the solid black background and that the pattern paper layer is active.

Note: In the Layers Palette, the blue background is above the black template and the paintbrush icon is next to the pattern paper, showing that as the active layer.

Now, mask the pattern paper onto your template by holding down the Ctrl key and depressing the G key (Ctrl+Alt+G in PSCS2 and above). After you have done this, notice your Layers Palette. Your layer with your pattern paper now shows an arrow facing down next to it. That is telling you that layer has been clipped onto the one below it.

Next, you need to merge the two layers. In the Layers Palette, click the arrow next to the word More and choose "Merge Down."

You will continue with the above steps on each new template piece.

Make sure your pattern paper layer is active, then press Ctrl+G.

Once you have merged the two layers, press and hold your Shift key, then drag the Curvy Template piece onto your background document.

Finish the remainder of the template pieces.

For the dark gray strip that goes across the page (seen in the screenshot above), I want to add a solid color.

To do that, I have selected the color I want the layer to be, then I use the Paint Bucket Tool and fill that strip with a solid color. Then, I will drag that colored portion onto the new document.

Follow the above instructions to finish up the template layers, add your drop shadows and any extra embellishments, and you have a completed layout!

Layout by Heidi Dillon
larger view

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Mixed Years 2000-2010 Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Curvy and Lettering Delights Underwood Pica Font are also available.

Free digital scrapbook tutorial written by Angie Briggs

P.S. Here are some other templates that are great for practicing clipping masks!

ScrapSimple Word Art Templates: Food Expressions
ScrapSimple Word Art Templates: Title It - Life
ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: Quilt Squares
ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Overlapped
ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Frame It! Edgy 2
ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Instamatic
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Page Wraps
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Alphabet Soup
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Life Goes On
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Chairs Mini
ScrapSimple Alpha Templates: Theme Park
ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 PhotoDoc 2010 - March

Scrap Girls, Etc. is a weekly column pulling bits and pieces from all over Scrap Girls. Stay tuned each week as Scrap Girls' Jane-of-All-Trades Heidi Dillon brings you tutorials, musings, recipes, interviews, design/software tips and tricks, layout walk-throughs, and who knows what else!

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 Angie Briggs using July's Scrap Girls Club
larger view

Created for you by Angie Briggs

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 Template
1 Brush Set
2 Designer's Choice Item

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

Layout by Valerie Randall using June's ScrapSimple Club
larger view

Created for you by Melissa Renfro and Valerie Randall

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 Transparency Overlays

Ahhh, the joys of digital scrapbooking! I recall seeing, in my paper scrapping past, transparencies to be used on scrapbook pages. But they seemed limited in color, texture, or look. However, if you check out Scrap Girls' Boutique, you'll see that there are numerous transparencies to choose from. Even better is that with the ScrapSimple Transparencies, you get to choose the color, look, and style!

I'm going to focus on one ScrapSimple transparency - ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Bookworm. There are a number of ways to use transparencies. You might want to try out several options to get the look you want. You can clip a paper to it, make it a color you want, run a gradient of color across it, or use a style on it. You can also use the Blending Modes and Opacity setting to further customize the look.

It’s fun to jazz up a paper with a ScrapSimple Transparency!

For the examples below, I placed the ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Bookworm over a paper and applied a style to the transparency. I will list the collection that the background paper came from and the style used on the Scrap Simple Transparency. It's amazing how many different looks you can achieve.

Example 1:

Bamboozled Collection Biggie
ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Noteworthy 6301

Example 2:

Uptown Solids Paper Mini
ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Distressed 5101 Super Biggie

Example 3:

Dear Friend Collection Mini
ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Uptown 6401 Biggie

Example 4:

Basic Linens Paper Biggie – Summer
ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Dabbed 8201 Super Biggie

For my layout below, I colored the transparency a cream color. To do so, I opened a blank layer above the Transparency Layer, filled that new layer with the cream color, clipped the color layer (Ctrl+G) to the Transparency Layer, then merged (Ctrl+E) the color layer down to the Transparency Layer. The background paper has some texture and irregularities to it. I wanted that to show up in the transparency, so I used one of the options from ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie on it.

Learn the basics - and a whole lot more - of digital scrapbooking when you check out the incredible tutorials in Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed and MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

Layout by Charlene Crowder
larger view

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Off The Wall - Torn, Dynamic Brush Set: Seasons 8201, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Shelving 6401 Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Stacked Photos 6502 PSE and PS Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Shadow Layer 6501 PSE and Lettering Delights Debonaire Font are also available.

Article written by Charlene Crowder

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
NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro X (XI)

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

Now that you've learned the basics of digital scrapbooking with Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, you are ready to learn advanced skills for having even more fun while you create digital scrapbooking layouts!

Get a big boost learning how to use ScrapSimple products to make your own backgrounds, embellishments, and alphas with the MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements movie tutorial series. You'll learn so much that your digital scrapbooking layouts will never be the same!

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:

Scrap Girls 2009 Digital Scrap Link Class: Tips and Tricks to Make Quick Albums Fast!

Have you ever received an email offer for a really great deal on a 20-page album? But then you sit at your computer and get overwhelmed. This eBook will cover some great tips and tricks to help you pull it off in a snap! Included with your purchase, you will receive a special digital layout template set of three layouts in both 8.5x11 and 12x12 size, with which you can practice the techniques taught in the eBook.

Artistry eBook by Marnie Adams

Artistry: A Celebration of Digital Design Excellence highlights the best-of-the-best in digital scrapbooking focusing on high quality layout design, imaginative use of products, creative vision, top-notch typography, and artistic expression.

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set
2009 - 4th Quarter

Subscribers to the Scrap Girls Newsletter have one thing in common: they love to learn new techniques! Each issue shares ideas, tutorials, and new ways to use Scrap Girls quality digital scrapbooking products. Now you can have all those past tutorials and Way Cool Stuff articles of the 4th Quarter of 2009 in one convenient PDF format.

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: Patterns, Blends & Filters, Oh My!

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 Julie White
larger view

Designer Freebie by Julie White coordinates with her American City 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.

CROPS AND CHATS

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, July 1st - 2:00PM MT

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. So join Michelle (Shelbi) and Pat (PBarnes) at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

What's New Chat
Friday, July 2nd - 9:00AM MT

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry Lynn at 9am MT on Friday mornings 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!

Back-Up Party and Chat
Friday, July 2nd - 2:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April Showers in the chat room on Friday, July 2nd for a Back-Up Party and Chat. We'll also go over several different ways to safeguard your files. You won't want to miss this one!

NSBR Chat
Monday, July 5th - 7:00PM MT

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. So join Carla (CRS) on July 5th at 7pm MT!

Creative Cards Chat
Tuesday, July 6th - 6:00PM MT

Do you use your digital supplies to make cards? Do you want to? Instead of going to the store every time you need a card, you can save money and have fun making cards with your digi stash! Make a note of any cards you might need for the upcoming month and join Michelle (Shelbi) and April (April Showers) for the once-a-month Card Chat on Tuesday, July 6th at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, July 7th - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers)each Wednesday at 10am MT for the East Coast High Noon Crop. All coasts and time zones are welcome! 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 July 7th, we'll do a color challenge! Create a layout on any theme, any topic, using the color TURQUOISE! Create your layout and upload it to the special High Noon Crop Gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

ATC Swap Crop
Wednesday, July 7th - 4:30PM MT

Please join Sherry Lynn and Elisha (elibar) in the chatroom for our July ATC (Artist Trading Card) Swap Crop/Chat on Wednesday, July 7th at 4:30pm MT. We're looking forward to seeing you there!

Project SG Chat
Thursday, July 8th - 6:00PM MT

Have you heard about Project SG yet? This challenge is all about creating an album for 2010 and scrapping your most current photos. Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and April Showers on Wednesday, July 8th at 6pm MT for this month's Project SG Chat! It isn't too late to start. We'll fill you in on all the details at the chat. Hope to see you there!

What's New Chat
Friday, July 9th - 9:00AM MT

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry Lynn at 9am MT on Friday mornings 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!

JULY EVENTS

July Message Board Game: BINGO!

It's that time again! Join us for an exciting game of BINGO on the Message Board Forum in July! Pick 25 words from the list provided in the forum and send them in an e-mail to [email protected] with a subject line that says "BINGO CARD - your SG message board username" by Wednesday, June 30th (Midnight MT) in order to play in the first round, which will begin Thursday, July 1st.

Each day, members of the Welcoming Committee will call five random words from the Bingo list. Match just 15 of those words to win a BINGO. You must be first to call bingo in the forum to win that round. After a winner is called, the boards can be cleared and a new round will begin the following day. All winners win a $5 gift certificate to the Boutique! We like to see lots of winners, so please remember that each person can only win one round during the month. Have fun!

If you miss the first round cutoff date, you can still play! Just send in your Bingo card at any time during the month and you'll be eligible to begin playing when the next new round starts. Everyone who sends in a Bingo card will receive a confirmation email that their card has been received. If you do not receive confirmation within 24 hours, please re-send your list of words.

For complete details and examples of game play, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls message board.

Layout Contests:

July Monthly Layout Contest: Most all countries have a national holiday. The time of the year varies across our wide world but the United States just happens to celebrate Independence Day in July. For this month's layout contest, we want you to create a layout showing us something about what you do to celebrate your nation or show your patriotism. Post your layouts in the July Gallery before Midnight MT on July 31st. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. If your layout is one of the two chosen, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Club Concepts Layout Contest: 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 or the ScrapSimple Club Members' Gallery. Be sure to list all of the Scrap Girls products you used. If your layout is chosen, it will be showcased as a Club Concepts layout winner, and you will win a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Check our message board calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in Mountain Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-Utah-Salt Lake City' as the location for the Mountain time zone.)

Haven't received your prize as a contest winner? Please send an email to [email protected] and we'll get it out to you right away!