Note from Heidi: Many people often aren't sure what kinds of things they would do with a commercial-use item. Maybe they have a project in mind that would require a commercial license, but want to make sure they get more "bang for their buck" than just one project would require. Maybe you're a scrapbook kit designer who is looking for a way to take a template and put a unique spin on it. Well, here's a great tutorial for you! Brandie Valenzuela's got a great starting point for her ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Altered CD that is sure to inspire more ideas!

And the best part? Both the consumer and commercial license for the CD templates, as well as the gorgeous Winter White Collection (by Amanda Sok) that was used to make the sample layout, are on sale for 30% off until the 4th of September as part of our new All-Stars monthly promotion! So if you're inspired by these ideas, don't wait to pick up these beauties at a steal, because you know these kinds of prices don't come around very often!

Selecting Easy Page Accents with ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Altered CD

This free digital scrapbooking tutorial was created using Adobe Photoshop 7 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!

If you have browsed the Scrap Girls Boutique, you have probably seen the assortment of Card and Craft Templates. Upon closer look at these products, you will find some wonderful samples using them. But Card and Craft Templates are so much more than their name implies. Most are versatile enough to be able to be used as photo mats, journaling blocks, embellishments, and more. Read on to see how I used ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Altered CD to create my layout, and it didn't involve a single CD!

Create a new 12x12-inch, 300-dpi document with a transparent background. Open your background paper. Slide your background paper onto your new document. This is where you will build your layout.

Open the template of your choice from ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Altered CD.

Create your Altered CD using digital background papers of your choice with masking layers. Reduce each 12x12-inch paper to approximately 5x5-inch. (Be sure not to accidentally save your paper at this size.)

One at a time, slide your resized paper to the template. Be sure the paper layer is directly above the template layer you wish to add the paper to. Once it is in place, merge the paper to the template layer by pressing Ctrl+G on your keyboard (Command+G for Mac, or Ctrl+Alt+G for PSCS2 and above users). Repeat with each layer.

Merge all layers. Reduce the size of the Altered CD by going to Edit> Transform> Scale. Near the top of your screen, you will find options for resizing. Set horizontal and vertical scale to 80%. Hit Enter on your keyboard to accept the resizing. Drag the Altered CD to your layout.

Duplicate the Altered CD Layer of the layout two times. Align the three Altered CDs evenly on the left edge of your layout.

Add your photo, title, and other digital embellishments as you wish.

P.S. Don't miss out on the rest of our All-Stars this month! Check them out, both in the regular and commercial sections of our Boutique!

Digital Scrapbook Layout by Brandie Valenzuela
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Altered CD are also available.

Free digital scrapbooking tutorial written by Brandie Valenzuela

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 Laurel Lakey using August's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Ariadna Wiczling

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 Shalae Tippetts using August's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Thao Cosgrove and Brandie Valenzuela

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!

Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages

The amazing designers at Scrap Girls have created so many easy-to-use products for us. Making beautiful digital scrapbook layouts can be as simple or as complex as we choose. Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages allow you to "zoom" right along and create one- or two-page layouts in no time!

For this article, I chose to use Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages: His and Hers. Its colorful papers and embellishments were the perfect accent to the playful nature of our new kitten, Stuffers. To get started quickly, I placed all of the pieces of this collection into the Photo Bin in Photoshop Elements 5.0. Then I opened the photos I planned to use.

I was worried that this would slow my program down but, if it did, I didn't notice. I think that's because my layout came together so quickly!

Not only are Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages time-savers, but because they have coordinating and similarly named collections, they are a great base for more complex layouts. Of course, you can always find more coordinating elements that work with your color scheme in the Boutique.

Above is the "bones" of my layout. From here I added embellishments from Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages: His and Hers, word art, and alphas from His And Hers Collection Biggie, a few paw prints from Dynamic Brush Set: Tracks 8301, and two sections of journaling.

Are you new to digital scrapbooking or do you want to take your digital layouts to a new level? Check out the incredible tutorials on Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed and MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

Layout by Janine Buckles
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Commercial license versions of His and Hers Collection Biggie, Dynamic Brush Set: Tracks 8301, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and AMC_Friendly Font are also available.

Journaling: We call you "Stuffers" but your name is really "Stocking Stuffer." You are one of Andrew's cat, Boston's, kittens and when you and your brothers and sisters were born, he and his friends named each of you. You got your name because they thought you looked like a striped kitty that had been stuffed into four little white stockings. When we came to take you home today Andrew said we could change your name, but we love the story so much we are going to keep it. And so, we call you "Stuffers." June 24, 2010

Article written by Janine Buckles

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 2008 Digital Scrap Link Class: Understanding and Creating Color Sets

Learn to create perfect color palettes on your digital scrapbook pages with Understanding and Creating Color Sets written by Trish Yochum. Learn color terms, how to put together color palettes, how to mix and match colors by hue and how to create winning color combos every time.

ReMix: (Digital Scrapbooking) From Ordinary to Extraordinary! eBook

Have you ever wanted to get a makeover - A layout makeover? Do you ever wonder how someone might decide to make certain changes and why? In ReMix: (Digital Scrapbooking) From Ordinary to Extraordinary! eBook, you have the opportunity to virtually "look over the shoulder" during the remake process, as Scrap Girls Product Designer Marnie Adams takes member's pages and plies her design magic.

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 - PS: How to use ScrapSimple Tools: Custom Shapes & Patterns

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 Thao Cosgrove
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Designer Freebie by Thao Cosgrove coordinates with her ScrapSimple Alpha Templates: Vintage Folio,
part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Alpha Templates: Vintage Folio, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Vintage Folio, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Vintage Folio, ScrapSimple Word Art Templates: ABC's of YOU and Brush Set: Grungy Text 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, August 26th - 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 April (April Showers) at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

Speed Scrap Crop
Thursday, August 26th - 7:00PM MT

Ever wonder what you can get done when time is tight? Here is your chance to find out! Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Carla (CRS) for a Speed Scrap Crop! We'll give you six items, spread out over an hour, for you to include on your layout. It's a challenge that is also a lot of fun! We'll see you in the chat room on Thursday, August 26th, at 7pm MT!

What's New Chat
Friday, August 27th - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) 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!

Swap Crop Chat
Saturday, August 28th - 6:00PM MT

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. We'll brainstorm a theme for next month, too! Join us, Carla (CRS) and Angela (angelaNussbaum), for a fun chat at 6pm MT on Saturday, August 28th!

Emphasis on Embellishments Chat
Monday, August 30th - 7:00PM MT

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Janine (J9Buckles) on Monday at 7pm MT for the Emphasis on Embellishments Chat. This monthly chat is geared towards challenging you to use more elements/embellishments on your layout. Each month, you will be given a specific number challenge to inspire you to start using more elements on your layouts or to create your own cluster of embellishments! You will be amazed at what YOU can do at this chat!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 1st - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) each Wednesday at 12 Noon Eastern Time 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 September 1st, we'll do a surprise color challenge! Create a layout using a color to be chosen by the group at the beginning of the crop! 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 Chat
Wednesday, September 1st - 5:00PM MT

Please join Lei (Bride) and Elisha (elibar) in the chatroom for our ATC (Artist Trading Card) Swap Crop/Chat on Wednesday, September 1st at 5pm MT. Come see what everyone has created and we'll talk about next month's topic. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

Project SG Chat
Thursday, September 2nd - 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 (April Showers) on Thursday, September 2nd 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 in the Boutique Chat
Friday, September 3rd - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) 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, September 3rd - 2:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April (April Showers) in the chat room Friday, September 3rd 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!

AUGUST EVENTS

August Message Board Game: Posting Contest!

It's that time again - Posting Contest time! This is where you are rewarded for your flying fingers and chattiness. The contest will run from August 1 when we post the thread to August 31 at 12:00 Midnight (MST). We are doing things a little differently this time, so here are the rules:

1) To enter the Posting Challenge, reply in the game thread with your CURRENT post count. This is the number under your Avatar that shows when you post. Do not post the number found on your profile; it is a different number that is calculated differently.

2) During the month, chat your fingers off!

3) On August 31, BEFORE Midnight (MST), go back to your original post in the game thread (the one with your starting post count) and take a screenshot of it. Send the screenshot to [email protected]. The screenshot is your contest entry! We will calculate your post count based on the numbers on the screenshot. (Directions for taking screenshots will be posted in the game thread.)

Prizes: The top poster gets a $20 Scrap Girls gift certificate. Everyone over 250 new posts will be entered in a random drawing for a $10 Scrap Girls gift certificate. Everyone over 100 new posts will be entered into a random drawing for a $5 Scrap Girls gift certificate.

For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls message board.

Layout Contests:

August Monthly Layout Contest: For August's layout contest, we want you to scrap about what you do to "get away from it all" when you can't get take a big vacation. Do you play tourist in your own town, do you pamper yourself with a spa day, do you just take a weekend day to do nothing? Post your layouts in the August Gallery before Midnight MT on August 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!