Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: October 25, 2010

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CUTE STUFF

Digital scrapbook layout by Heather Messmer

"Trick or Treat" by Heather Messmer
larger view

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I liked the alpha set from the Inspired Collection Biggie, but I wanted my title in a different color than brown. To do this, I used the Magic Wand Tool to select each letter and then went to Edit> Fill to recolor each letter orange, which better suited my layout.




Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Corner Rounder 5001 Mini, Inspired Collection Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and Lettering Delights Slender Font are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3

Name of challenge: Halloween

Digital scrapbook layout by Shari Payne

"Halloween" by Shari Payne
larger view

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I wanted the brush from Valerie Randall's Brush Set: Bordering on Elegant to have a realistic stamped look, so I made several copies of my brushed layer and placed them directly over the different layers of Syndee Nuckles's ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Clusters 4 and then used a clipping mask on each of the brush layers. Next I used Sarah Batdorf's ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 on the photo cluster layers only, not on the brush layers. This gave me the realistic look I was looking to create.





Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Bordering on Elegant, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Clusters 4, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Metals III Rust 8501 Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: The Beauty of Blending Modes: Using them with ScrapSimple Products are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS5

Name of challenge: Halloween

Journaling: We have a couple of Halloween traditions. The first is the annual "Candy Bandit" picture that started as an accident when Kalyssa was almost one. The other one is that we always walk over to Oma's house to "Trick or Treat." We don't usually go knocking on doors for candy anywhere else but we do try to find other alternatives for fun. This year Calvary Chapel had a fun harvest party at a local school with bounce houses/slides and lots of fun games. Little Eeyore, Violet "Incredible" and their parents had a ton of fun!

Digital scrapbook layout by Gisele Queiroz

"Chaislynn" by Gisele Queiroz
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

In this layout, I wanted to use the Heidi Dillon's ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 PhotoDoc 2010 - January. Some Digital Layout Templates come with white frames for photos, because it is a standard color for digital frames. This time I wanted to do something a little different, so I tried a few colors for the frames. After a several attempts, I decided to apply a Style on them. I love using Styles because they are fast and the settings are ready to use. I chose to apply Keri Schueller's ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Paper 5201, and I loved the effect. Our Scrap Girls Boutique is full of beautiful Styles to use in many different ways.





Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 PhotoDoc 2010 - January, Young At Heart Collection Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Distressed 5102 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Metals II 8501 Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Paper 5201, Assemble Your Own: Alpha Strings Biggie - White and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lace Set 1 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS5

Name of challenge: Swap photos with another layout artist!

Other Ingredients:

Photos provided by Becca Hauck

Digital scrapbook project by Jennifer Wight

Halloween Placemats by Jennifer Wight
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I created my placemats at 11x14 inches because I knew that would be an easy size to print. After printing the placemats, I had them laminated, and voila, instant personalized Halloween décor that my kids love!



Commercial license versions of Bump in the Night Collection, Bump in the Night 2 Collection Mini and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Name of challenge: Halloween

Digital scrapbook layout by Joann Brown

"Halloween Fairy" by Joann Brown
larger view

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I employed the use of different photo styles and color to add visual interest in this layout. On the center focal photo, I used Brandy Murry's Scrapsimple Tools - Actions: Sketch It Ps 8501 Mini - Black & White. On my two edge photos, I used Melissa Renfro's Black & White action in her ScrapSimple Tools – Actions: Photo Basics 5001. I wanted to keep a few photos in color, because I wanted them to help draw the eye to the other photos, as well as help lead the eye around the page. Because I'm using a color scheme with a lot of black, I also use a pop of orange in deliberate places, thus creating visual interest.





Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Grooves 1, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Sketch It PS 8501 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Sketch It 2, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Fragmented 2, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Branch Manager Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Micro Glitter 6401 Super Biggie and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Wrought Iron 5201 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Name of challenge: Halloween

Journaling: Going trick-or-treating with her friends; all dressing up as a different fairy.

Digital scrapbook layout by Ashleigh Bronner

"You Could Totally Wear This {Costume} Again" by Ashleigh Bronner
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

The best thing about digital scrapbooking is that even if you're not the best photographer, you can still create layouts with great photos. These photos of my daughter were very dark after running ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001 on them. To lighten the photos, I ran ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photos That Pop 1801 Mini on the photos. Usually this does the trick, but for these photos, her face was still too dark so I used the Dodge Tool on her face to brighten those dark areas of the photo.






Commercial license versions of Brush Set: A Mother's Love Word Art 2, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Butterflies 7201, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Grand Old Flag, Brush Set: Staples and Holes, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Staples and Holes 6101, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Cardboard 6401 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photos That Pop 1801 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Pretty Packages, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Slice it Up, Dynamic Brush Set: Dashed 8201 and AMC_Happy Font are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Name of challenge: Halloween

Other Ingredients:

Font - Century Gothic

Journaling: Halloween 2009 was a particularly fun one, simply because Jenelle was old enough to understand the concept of Trick-or-Treating and dressing up in costumes for the holiday. The first week of October, we picked out her costume, which was this Disney Princess costume, much to her everlasting delight. All month long, she asked to wear it, but the rule was she couldn't wear it until the big night. Well, she did indeed wear it that night, and the next night, and the next night, and the next. Even now, almost a year later, she'll occasionally pull out the costume. For Jenelle, this costume is not only for Halloween!

Digital scrapbook layout by Becca Hauck

"Spooky & Sweet" by Becca Hauck
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I wanted to use the background paper from Marnie Adams's My Kitty Collection Mini, but the pink color didn't go with the color palette of my layout. To adjust the color of the paper, I added a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and played with the sliders until the paper suited my page better.

I also used Marnie's ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Oil Spill to add some texture and vibrancy to the strips of colored paper that matted my photos and other elements of my layout.





Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Oil Spill, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Organica 5201, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Stencil 5101 Super Biggie, AMC_Thoughtful Font and ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Adobe Lightroom 3

Name of challenge: Halloween

Journaling: Some people have asked us if we felt weird about adopting a black cat this past year, but the answer is no. Bella walked into our house, full of loud noises and children, like she owned the place. Her quiet ways are a welcome addition in our home.

Digital scrapbook layout by Charlene Crowder

"Dragons" by Charlene Crowder
larger view

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I love the little dragon character from Digital Stickers: Happy Haunting Costume Kids. When I placed the element against my green paper (recolored from Happy Haunting Collection Mini), it got a little bit "lost." To help it to stand out, I gave it a stroke in PSE 7.0 on its own layer. Then I used ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Wires 6401 on the stroke, and it stood out from the green background. I also wanted to give it a little extra dimension, so I decided to duplicate the dragon sticker. On the upper layer, I applied ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Acrylic Bubbles Mini 1801 which gave it the look of a puffy sticker.






Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Hugs and Kisses Alpha Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Glittered Scallops, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Micro Glitter 6401 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Painted Plastic 6401 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Wires 6401, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders II Biggie, Lettering Delights Painter's Hand Font, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Acrylic Bubbles Mini 1801, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Acrylic Bubble Buttons, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Deep Shadows 6501 PSE and PS Biggie and ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Shadow Layer 6501 PSE are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0

Name of challenge: Halloween

Journaling: Beware of two adorable dragons preparing for tricks or treats.

Digital scrapbook layout by Julie Moberly

"Happy Halloween" by Julie Moberly
larger view

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I decided to get creative with Marnie Adams's original sketch. I used Sketch #6 to start my layout. First, I rotated it 90 degrees to the left. Then I added another photo above the largest photo.




Commercial license versions of Bump in the Night Collection, ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Scratched, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Edgy, THIN, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0

Name of challenge: Halloween

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.

Designing Blind
Monday, October 25, 2010

IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
- Cute Stuff
- A Designer's Life: Heidi Dillon
- Scrap Girls Clubs
- Getting Started
- Designer Freebie
- What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
- Online Classes Currently Available
- Ongoing Opportunities for YOU

AVAILABLE ONLINE CLASSES

Understanding and Creating Color Sets
Mondays, November 1st and 8th
6:00PM MT

This in-depth digital scrapbooking class on color sets is the perfect opportunity to learn and discuss ways in which colors work together, and how to use colors to your advantage for all your digital scrapbooking projects. Join Katherine Weaver for this two-session class which goes into depth on the three main color groups (primary, secondary, and tertiary). You will also discover ways to create and save your own custom color palettes. This class includes the Scrap Girls 2008 Digital Scrap Link Class: Understanding and Creating Color Sets, two one-hour sessions in a private chat room and access to a private class forum and gallery.

If you have already bought the Scrap Girls 2008 Digital Scrap Link Class: Understanding and Creating Color Sets, email [email protected] to receive a store credit to use towards the purchase of this class.

Important: This Intermediate Level class is open to all software program users. Students are required to understand the basic skills taught in the Scrapbook Secrets Revealed and MORE Scrapbook Secrets Revealed program prior to starting the course. This information will not be reviewed as part of the course!

Digital Photography Simplified
Tuesdays, November 2nd - December 7th
7:00PM MT

Are you ready to take your photography to a new level? Have you admired the pictures in gallery layouts and wondered how you could recreate them? If so, this is the class for you. Join Mary Elizabeth O'Toole to learn new photography techniques and create a portfolio that you can use as a showcase for photos or as a record of your learning. You'll improve your photos by learning more about how your digital camera works and then applying the theory through weekly photo assignments. This class includes the digital Photography Simplified eBook, six one-hour sessions in a private chat room and access to a private class forum and gallery.

If you have already bought the digital Photography Simplified eBook, email [email protected] to receive a store credit to use towards the purchase of this class.

Important: This is an intermediate level digital photography techniques class. It is open to all students interested in improving their photography skills. It is NOT a scrapbook technique class and, therefore, not associated with any one scrapbook software program. However, students are required to understand the basic skills taught in the Scrapbook Secrets Revealed and MORE Scrapbook Secrets Revealed program prior to starting the course. This information will not be reviewed as part of the course!

GENERAL INFORMATION

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Work with Scrap Girls

We Accept:

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The entire Scrap Girls team wants to say how grateful we are that you have chosen to participate with us. You'll never know just how much your support means to us and our families.

Ro
CEO (Chief Eater of Oreos)
Scrap Girls, LLC

P.S. Your email address is safe with us. We never share, rent, sell, or loan our list with anyone!

P.P.S. If you ever need any assistance, please email [email protected] or call
866-598-3444 and we'll help you as quickly as possible!

IMPORTANT TO KNOW

Check out the Retirement Sale section of the Boutique. Items in this section are always on sale for 30% off. The items you will find during any particular month will be discontinued permanently on the 5th of the following month. So if you see something you like, grab it while you can!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU

Customer Muses: Would you like to share your own Life Muse with our readers? To have your own essay considered for publication as a muse in the column for our special Saturday newsletter, send your essay to [email protected]. If your essay is selected, you will receive a $20 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique.

Way Cool Scrap Girl: We are so excited to have all of you meet some of the amazing people that have become Scrap Girls! If you would like to be spotlighted and win a $25 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique, send the following items to [email protected]:

- 500-900 word essay about your experience with digital scrapbooking, Scrap Girls, and specific examples of how we have helped you.
- A 600-pixel wide, 72 dpi copy of a layout you've created that uses Scrap Girls products, plus a complete list of those products.
- A 100-pixels wide, 72 dpi picture of yourself.
- Permission to use your statement.

Suggest a Challenge, Win a Prize! Have a great idea for a Gallery layout challenge? Submit it to [email protected]. If your challenge idea is chosen, you will win a prize! Friday will be Customer Challenge Day, so keep an eye out on the Message Board calendar. It will be fun to see what YOU come up with for us to do!

Project SG Challenge: Stay motivated to scrap your current photos! Post your 2010 layouts in the Project SG Challenge Gallery to earn one point per layout each month. You can earn up to four points per month this way! Earn a bonus point each month by attending the monthly Project SG Chat! Each point gives you an entry into a quarterly drawing for a special prize! And at the end of the year, each month that you participated in will earn you an entry into the Grand Prize drawing for a 12x12, 52-page Keepsakes photobook from Color, Inc! Our 4th quarter drawing winner and the Grand Prize winner will be announced in the Scrap Girls newsletter on Saturday, January 8th, 2011.

div Scrap Girls is giving away birthday gifts to our Message Board members!

Of course, it is a surprise what you will get because birthday presents are always surprises! But you will like it for sure because most people like money.... Anyway, make sure your Message Board email address is current and that you have the correct date entered into your profile to participate.

*ADVERTISEMENT*

A DESIGNER'S LIFE

Heidi Dillon

Designing Blind

These pictures are of Nelly and me in the University of Utah Hospital's emergency room. I knew we'd end up here for one thing or another during her childhood, I just didn't expect this!

Earlier that day, Nelly and I were lying in bed and I pulled her to me so we could get up, and she reached her hand up and stuck her finger in my right eye. I didn't think much of it at the time, though it hurt like crazy. I thought maybe she had pulled an eyelash into it or something because when we went out for lunch later that day, it was still watering and hurting. Later that night, it hurt so badly that we walked to the store to get eye drops, tape, and gauze to cover my eye since the light was hurting it so much. By 1:00 a.m., I couldn't stand it any longer and made Dan take me to the emergency room (ER).

We found out there that she had actually scraped my cornea and caused some pretty substantial damage. The doctor on call gave me some antibiotic cream to put in it, some strong pain medications, and sent us home. Nelly charmed all the ER nurses, though, and got a snack of graham crackers and milk. (I think she may try this middle-of-the-night trick again!) Dan warned all the staff to wear safety goggles when handling The Nelly.

When I saw my normal eye doctor the next day, he put a soft contact over the scratch, gave me a prescription for a strong antibiotic eye drop, and told me to come back the next morning. But by then, things had gone from bad to worse. I could hardly open my eye; it was so goopy, red, swollen, painful, and light-sensitive. He took one look, said, "Oh, Sweetheart!" and referred me to his eye doctor. After two solid weeks of near-blindness, eye drops, and follow-ups, my eye has healed with only a small scar.

It was so hard to be nearly blind. I couldn't drive, read, watch television, or properly clean Nelly's face and hands - and doing anything on the computer with my light-sensitive and depth-challenged eyes was a joke. I spent days at my parents' house where they could watch both me and my baby, I administered eye drops every hour on the hour, and I had such a bad reaction to one medicine that I spent a whole day sicker than I've been in years.

Through it all, I continued to feel so grateful. I knew, even if I lost my right eye due to the infection, that I would still be able to see with my left eye. I realized how much of my life revolves around being able to see. The smile of my daughter when she sees me in the morning, the colors of a digital scrapbooking kit I'm working with, the texture of a favorite blanket... even simple, silly things like being able to see where the shampoo is in the shower without knocking it off onto my foot are things I have not been taking for granted in the aftermath of this event.

Apparently, I'm fairly fortunate. Nelly punctured several layers of my eye, and it was so badly infected from all the "cleaning" I tried to do that the eye doctor took photos to show his students. He said it was a pretty dangerous situation there for a while. Boy, of all the hazards of being a mom, I wouldn't have expected this one!

- Heidi

Favorite Product I've designed:
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini are also available.

I was so excited about this product because it was something I was already using and was so glad when somebody asked about sharpening techniques on our Message Board. One of my favorite things about Scrap Girls is how willing all of our wonderful designers are to answer requests for products, and as a new and relatively slow designer, I hadn't had many opportunities to do this yet. I am so glad to share this Action Set with you; it just makes everything so much more clear – it's really unbelievable! I used it on my photos in the layout below, which were taken in dim light without a flash on a camera phone by my husband, and they turned out fairly usable!

Digital scrapbook layout by Heidi Dillon

Layout by Heidi Dillon
larger view





Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Double Take, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Organica 5201, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Stamped 5001 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie are also available.

SCRAP GIRLS CLUBS

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

Computer scrapbook layout by Armi Custodio using October's Scrap Girls Club
Layout by Armi Custodio using October's Scrap Girls Club
larger view

Created for you by Keri Schueller

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.

Computer scrapbook layout by Doris Castle using October's ScrapSimple Club
Layout by Doris Castle using October's ScrapSimple Club
larger view

Created for you by Doris Castle and Angie Briggs

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!

GETTING STARTED AS A DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKER

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:

Scrapbooking 911 - 2-page Sketches to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking eBook

Are you stuck in a creative corner? Need a jumpstart to your layouts? With a fresh collection of original sketches, all the hard design decisions have already been made for you. Using sketches, you'll spend less time arranging and more time playing with all your family pictures and digital scrapbooking supplies.

Scrap Girls 2008 Digital Scrap Link Class: Pattern Repeat Basics

Now you can own the class material taught at the 2008 Scrap Girls Digital Scrap Link event. Learn to create your own digital scrapbooking patterns with this eBook written by Amanda McGee. Learn to create a basic dot pattern and more advanced floral pattern repeats. Also includes a brush set mini to create your own floral patterns.

Ten Beginner Tips on Type eBook

If you're creating a digital scrapbooking layout, it's almost guaranteed that you'll be using type on your pages somewhere. But did you know that type can make or break your page? If you want to take some beginner steps towards improving the type on your layouts and improving the overall look of your layouts, then this eBook is perfect for you!

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: How to Combine ScrapSimple Paper & Photo 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

TODAY'S FREEBIE

Digital scrapbook layout by Keri Schueller

Layout by Keri Schueller
larger view

Designer Freebie by Keri Schueller coordinates with her Rough Hewn Collection Biggie,
part of this month's Scrap Girls Club offering!




Commercial license versions of In The Moment Collection Mini, Brush Set: Cigar Label and Brush Set: Ornamental 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.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT SCRAP GIRLS?

CROPS AND CHATS

Emphasis on Embellishments Chat
Monday, October 25th - 6:00PM MT

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Janine (J9Buckles) on Monday at 6pm 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!

New Member Chat
Tuesday, October 26th - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes)and Angela (angelaNussbaum) for the New Member Chat at 7pm MT 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.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, October 27th - 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 October 27th, we'll do a "Push Yourself" challenge! Create a layout that really pushes your personal style - either something you've never done before, or a layout that is very much your style - just INTENSELY your style! You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

Ad Inspiration Chat
Thursday, October 28th - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes) at 7pm MT for an Ad Inspiration 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!

Desktop Challenge Crop
Friday, October 29th - 8:00AM MT

Tired of the boring desktop wallpaper backgrounds that your PC or MAC came with? Join Becca and Angela (angelaNussbaum) on October 29th at 8am MT for this month's Desktop Challenge Crop. We'll show you how to use your digital scrapbooking supplies to create a personalized desktop wallpaper of your own. Stay tuned for the challenge! We will post it the day of the chat!

What's New in the Boutique Chat
Friday, October 29th - 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, October 30th - 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 Carla (CRS) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) for a fun chat at 6pm MT on Saturday, Octber 30th!

NSBR Chat
Monday, November 1st - 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) and Lei (Bride) on November 1st at 7pm MT!

Creative Cards Chat
Tuesday, November 2nd - 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 April (April Showers) and Theresa (tiza126) for the once-a-month Card Chat on Tuesday, November 2nd at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

OCTOBER EVENTS

October Message Board Game: Going on a Boutique Hunt!

Remember as a child when you played the game that started like this: "I am going on a ___ hunt and bringing..." then you listed an item with the first letter of your name or a specific letter? We are playing a similar game on the Message Board during the month of October. Each day, a new theme and starting letter will be posted in the Game thread. Members will search the Boutique for something that fits the theme and post a link to it in the Game thread. Only one product per letter per round will be counted, and products cannot be used more than once. Collections and their individual parts are one product, and time stamps will be used to determine which post came first in case of more than one post per letter. Entries are to follow the alphabet, starting with the letter posted with the theme each day. There's a limit of three posts per person each day, and there must be another player's post before posting again.

PRIZES: Members' names will be added to a drawing based on the number of qualified product links (up to three) which they post in the thread. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the month. Gift certificates will be awarded as follows: First prize, $15 Gift Certificate; second prize, $10 Gift Certificate, and third prize, $5 Gift Certificate.

Winners will be announced in the Newsletter on Saturday, November 6th.

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

Layout Contests:

October Monthly Layout Contest: October is National Family History Month in the United States but we can celebrate our family's history no matter what part of the world we live in. For this month's contest, we want you to do a layout telling a story from your family's history. Was there a black sheep in the family or someone who was a person of prominence? Did someone sacrifice a lot to keep their family together? Everybody has some story of note from their past. If you don't have photos of the particular members of your family that the story centers on, think about using a photo of a place where the story happened or just do a journaling page with embellishments that evoke a feeling from the time. Post your layouts in the October Gallery before Midnight MT on October 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!

This newsletter may be freely redistributed by email in its unedited form. We encourage you to share it with others.

Customers or advertisers, you may contact us at:
Scrap Girls
10817 Highland Circle
Highland, Utah 84003
www.scrapgirls.com

Toll-free: (866) 598-3444

P.S. If you ever need any assistance, please email [email protected] or call 866-598-3444 and we'll help you as quickly as possible!

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