I Am A Scrapbooker

I am a scrapbooker,
        CLICK-CLICK, CLICK-CLICK!
By day and by night,
        I'll do digital magic.

I sit by the light
        of my laptop's gray screen
And download my snapshots--
        some ideas can be seen--

Inside my mind,
        and inside my heart.
Surely these photos
        will become art!

Papers I drag,
        elements, photos, and more!
Creating pages of memories--
        Oh, this is no chore!

I size and resize,
        I transform, I rotate.
I add textures and glows
        so the pages look great!

After I SAVE and UPLOAD,
        off to Costco I'll go--
I confess: I'm addicted to scrapbooking!
        I do love it so!

By day and by night,
        I'll do digital magic.
I am a scrapbooker,
        CLICK-CLICK, CLICK-CLICK!

- Cheryl Ausdahl

Muse: To be absorbed in one's thoughts; engage in meditation. Not intended to solve the world's problems, another person's problems, or to cover topics completely. One does not have to agree with musings to enjoy them, just as one does not have to be the same as someone else to appreciate who they are.

Would you like to earn a $20 Gift Certificate? Send your own muse to [email protected]. If it is selected for publication in the Scrap Girls newsletter, you'll get to have fun shopping!

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 Kim Meeder using February's Scrap Girls Club
larger view

Created for you by Kim Meeder

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 Cherise Oleson using January's ScrapSimple Club
larger view

Created for you by Cherise Oleson 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!

Once a month, we share with you about a recent class that has been held at Scrap Girls. Today, I'd like to share with you a bit about one of the classes that Katherine Weaver taught called "Mastering Brushes for Photoshop."

Online Class: Mastering Brushes for Photoshop
Instructor: Katherine Weaver

What do you do when you have learned the basic skills of Photoshop brushes? The answer is simple: You take the Mastering Brushes for Photoshop class! This in-depth class was perfect for the digital scrapbooker who wanted to take their brushwork above and beyond the basics taught in the introductory video tutorials. In six sessions, students were able to turn their ordinary layouts into extraordinary with the brush skills taught in this class and the eBook, Mastering Brushes for Photoshop.

Each week, Katherine taught different ways to use brushes, which quickly had students learning how versatile brushes can be. They learned how to creatively use brushes in their digital layouts, how to use them as erasers, how to select the "right" brush to achieve certain looks, how to implement styles, effects, and embossing, and ways to use brushes for masking. It was packed full of the information that intermediate brush users want to know.

While all of this made the class very popular, there was one added subject that gave it the extraordinary factor on its own – students were taught how to create their own brushes. Now, students wouldn't be limited to what they could buy in the Scrap Girls Boutique, but they could take photos, elements, and more to make their own brushes to use time and time again.

As with all of our digital scrapbooking classes, students had access to their class sessions in a private chat room, plus a private class Message Board forum and a private Gallery (for sharing class homework and layouts). The valuable eBook, Mastering Brushes for Photoshop, was also included in the purchase price of the class. After each class session, Katherine promptly sent detailed class transcripts – which was particularly helpful to students.

I've chosen two different types of samples to share from the Mastering Brushes for Photoshop class.

This first one is a background scrapbook paper created by Linda.E. She brushed the clouds from Brush Set: Time Traveler - Clouds Biggie and colored them white, then added an overlay from ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Hula Sue Palms for the look she wanted:

Brushwork Sample by Linda.E
larger view

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Time Traveler - Clouds Biggie and ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Hula Sue Palms are also available.

During Session #3 which covered embossing, BarbaraC1977 created the layout below which is a great example of digital brushwork embossing:

Layout by BarbaraC1977
larger view

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Bordering on Elegant are also available.

The Mastering Brushes for Photoshop class was already held, but we do repeat classes. Plus, this class is also offered occasionally in a Photoshop Elements version. Be sure to keep watch on our Online Class section of the Boutique to find future class offerings to help you expand your digital scrapbooking skills.

Article written by Brandie Valenzuela, Scrap Girls University Principal

Souper Chat Saturday

It's that weekend again, when the couch gets loaded, the food piles up, and the TV begins to become the object of your dear ones' focus. Well, isn't it time you had something you love to focus on? Come join us for these Souper Chats today!

9:00AM MT - Souper Saturday Speed Crop Chat
Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Carla (CRS) for a Souper Saturday Speed Scrap Crop! We'll be in the chat room at 9am MT for a special edition of this crop. We'll give you six tasks to include in a layout, spread out over an hour, and then you'll have an hour to finish up your layouts and post them in the gallery! We'll pick a winner from those posted within the time frame. We'll get your Souper Saturday started off right!


12:00Noon MT - Saturday Color Challenge Chat
Join Theresa (tiza126) and Lei (Bride) in the chat room at 12:00 Noon MT as we take our Saturday Color Challenge (our favorite team colors) and add a couple of "souper quotes" into the mix for a great afternoon of challenge, chatting and fun! Don't forget to bring your favotire munchie snack to pass!!


7:00PM MT - Tailgating Party!
It's time for Tailgating! We'll post a list of tailgating foods and you make a list of what you would like to have at your tailgating party. Each food has a scrapbooking supply attached to it, and that is what you will use in your layouts. Join Shannon (tinkerbell11) and Carla (CRS) in the chat room at 7pm MT to find out what supplies are attached to what foods and for information on winning a prize!

And of course, what would a Scrap Girls Souper Chat Saturday be without prizes? You know Scrap Girls will be cheering you on to win something fun today! So forget your extra pads and helmets - all you need is your computer today! Don't miss out on the fun! We hope to see you there!

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by yellowrose
larger view

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Enchanted 2, Make a Wish Collection Biggie and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos Biggie are also available.

Layout by dorasinger
larger view

Want to see your layouts make an appearance in the Scrap Girls newsletters?

Simply post your digital or paper layouts that use Scrap Girls products in our online gallery, and if we choose your layout to be featured in the newsletter, you'll win a prize! To be considered, don't forget to list the Scrap Girls products that you used in your layout.

Congratulations to this week's selectees. Please email [email protected] to get your gift!

Want to see past winners of the Weekly Layout Contest? Visit the Weekly Layout Winners gallery on our message board here!

January's Monthly Layout Contest Winners

Layout by no_idea
larger view

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Retro Frames, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Edgers Biggie, Brush Set: Edgy LINES, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Velvet Foliage Biggie and ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Realistic Shadows - Basic PSE 11301 are also available.

Layout by PolkaDot
larger view

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Resin 6401 Super Biggie, Dynamic Brush Set: Dashed 8201, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Gingham 5201, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Valentine 7201, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Pop Edges for PSE 2201 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Congratulations to the winners of the January layout contest, Karen (no_idea) and Dot (PolkaDot). Their layouts each fit the theme of scrapping about what we do to keep warm during the coldest months of the year. Karen and Dot each receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique for their efforts. Congratulations!

Congratulations to this month's winners. Please email [email protected] to get your gift!

Want to see past winners of the Monthly Layout Contest? Visit the Monthly Layout Winners gallery on our message board here!

Member of the Month: February 2011

Congratulations Melanie (mbc72)! The Scrap Girls Team has chosen Melanie as the Member of the Month for February!

Melanie joined Scrap Girls in May 2007 and has been a huge asset! Melanie is very active in the "Prayers and Praises" forum, offering support to other members. She takes time to comment on other member's status updates as well. Melanie joins in chats and challenges and creates inspiring layouts. Scrap Girls just wouldn't be the same without her!

Melanie will receive a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique and has the honor of wearing the Member of the Month blinkie!

When you have a few minutes, Melanie, please tell us a little about yourself and share a link to your favorite layout! Thank you for making Scrap Girls a wonderful, friendly place! Congratulations!!

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:

30-33 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:

Scrapbook Quotes: The right quote for your scrapbook layouts

Looking for scrapbooking quotes or quotes to use for greeting cards? Here's your solution. This packed eBook contains hundreds of quotes, collected over many years by Rozanne Paxman specifically for use on scrapbooking layouts.

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

Are you stuck in a creative corner? Need a jumpstart to your layouts? Want more ideas how to go from a blank page to a digital masterpiece? With a fresh collection of original sketches, all the hard design decisions (such as balance, composition, and rule of thirds) have already been made for you.

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set - 2010 1st 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 1st Quarter of 2010 in one convenient PDF format. It's easy to find those helpful hints with just the click of your mouse. You get two eBooks for the price of one!

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? What typeface will you use? What size font? Where will you place it on your page? If you want to take some beginner steps towards improving the type on your layouts, and thereby improving the overall look of your layouts, then this eBook is perfect for you.

See more titles

Layout by Jan Hicks
larger view

Designer Freebie by Jan Hicks coordinates with her A Light Dusting of Snow Papers

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Enchanted, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Sew Doodly Shapes, Lettering Delights Dear Diary Font and Lettering Delights Antique Poster Font are also available.

* There is a "free download" button on the details page for each gift. You don't need to put them in your shopping cart unless you are shopping for other items. Also note that if you are slow reading your newsletter, you may find this freebie has already been retired, as the freebies are only available as gifts for about two newsletter cycles.

CROPS AND CHATS

ScrapSimple Club Chat
Monday, February 7th - 5:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) on Monday, February 7th at 5pm MT for a chat and challenge using this month's ScrapSimple Club. Did you know that every time you create a layout with the ScrapSimple Club and upload it into the ScrapSimple Club Gallery that you could be chosen to be featured in the Newsletter and receive a prize? Well, join us for the chat so we can encourage and inspire you and help with any questions that you may have. Let's get those ScrapSimple Club layouts done and uploaded!

NSBR Chat
Monday, February 7th - 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 us, Carla (CRS) and Lei (Bride) on February 7th at 7pm MT!

Hybrid ATC Swap Chat
Tuesday, February 8th - 6:00PM MT

Please join Shannon (tinkerbell11) and Lei (Bride) at 6pm MT on Tuesday, February 8th as we host the chat for another round of our Hybrid ATC Swap. Didn't participate this round? Not sure what it is? Come join us to find out all of the particulars!

New Member Chat
Tuesday, February 8th - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes) 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 Live Chat.

Sketch Challenge Chat
Tuesday, February 8th - 8:00PM MT

It's time for the Sketch Challenge and Crop! Join Cheri (Cheri T) for a Tuesday night edition on February 8th at 8pm MT in the Scrap Girls Chat Room! Enjoy getting a little creative boost for your pages? Are you needing help getting started? Then this is the challenge for you! A few hours before the chat begins, Cheri will post a link for you to download the sketch. Use it as the starting point for your page; be inspired by the basic arrangement; flip things around or copy the entire set up exactly. All interpretations of the design are welcome and encouraged. And don't worry about any deadlines... post your layout when it works with your schedule. Hope to see you there!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, February 9th - 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 February 9th, we'll do a five-photo challenge! Create a layout using five photos - no more, no less! You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

Baby Theme Crop & Chat
Wednesday, February 9th - 7:00PM MT

Join Carla (CRS) and Thersea (tiza126) for a new twist on the Baby Theme Crop! We're starting the New Year with a new challenge. This month, we'll work with ABC's. Include something in your layout that starts with a D, an E and an F! We'll see you in the chat room on Wednesday, February 9th at 7pm MT!

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique Chat
Friday, February 11th - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) at 9am MT on Friday mornings to chat about all the wonderful new products in the Scrap Girls Boutique! What are your favorite new items? Is your shopping basket full? What did you kaboodle? Have you already done layouts or other projects with your new goodies? Come tell the designers how much you love their work. You never know who will show up. There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat too!

Use Your Stash Chat
Friday, February 11th - 5:00PM MT

Join Theresa (tiza126) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the chatroom to talk about all of the Scrap Girls' digital treasures you have yet to use! We will post a challenge for a layout earlier in the day. See you there and start getting those goodies ready!

Hybrid Craft Chat
Friday, February 11th - 6:00PM MT

Just because you digitally crapbook doesn't mean you can't still play with paper and other fun goodies like glitter, fibers and glue! Join Carla (CRS) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the chatroom for ideas on how to get more use out of you digital supplies. We do a new hybrid craft each month!

FEBRUARY EVENTS

February 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 February 1st when we post the thread to February 28th at 12:00 Midnight (MST). We are doing things a little differently this time and there are two ways to participate - the Message Board and the Gallery, so here are the rules:

1) To enter the Message Board 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. During the month, chat your fingers off! On February 28th, 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.)

2) To enter the Gallery Posting Challenge, take a screenshot of your Gallery comment number and send it to [email protected] BEFORE February 1st, Midnight (MST). To get to your Gallery Stats, click the arrow beside your Profile photo and go down to Gallery. Your total comments number is under Stats on the left-hand side - this is what we need a screenshot of to know where you are starting. Then BEFORE Midnight (MST) on February 28th, take another screenshot of your Gallery Stats and send it to [email protected], this will give us your ending number and enter you in the contest!

PRIZES: You may enter both contests. Members with Message Board posts over 50 will be put in a drawing for a $5 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate. Members with Message Board posts over 200 will be put in a drawing for both the $5 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate and a $10 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate. Members with Message Board posts over 400 will be put in a drawing for a $15 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate, as well as the $5 and $10 Gift Certificates. Members with Gallery comments over 25 will be put in a drawing for $10 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate.

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

Layout Contests:

February Monthly Layout Contest: In the spirit of Mardi Gras, let’s scrap about parties!! For the February Layout Contest, we'd love to see your layouts featuring people or things that make a party special to you! It can be a party you hosted or one you attended. So put your party hats on and post your layouts in the February Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight MT on February 28th. 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!