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Announcing a Goal
Monday, July 11, 2011
IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
- Cute Stuff
- A Designer's Life:
Doris Castle - Announcing a Goal - Scrap Girls Club
- Back To The Basics:
What are Styles? - Designer Freebie
- What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
- Ongoing Opportunities for YOU
GENERAL INFORMATION
Support Center 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 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 IMPORTANT TO KNOWDon't forget to 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 YOUCustomer 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]:
Project SG Challenge: Stay motivated to scrap your current photos! Post your 2011 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 12 X 12, 52 page Keepsakes photobook from Color, Inc! Our second quarterly drawing winner will be announced in the Saturday, July 9th Newsletter. 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!
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. *ADVERTISEMENTS*
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Announcing a Goal
I want to run a half marathon by September.
There! I've said it in public. Now I can't back out of it. When I was on my journey to a healthier weight, I discovered that saying my goals to my friends made it easier to attain them. My friends were helpful by supporting me, and I didn't want to embarrass myself by not completing the goal.
Last summer was my first time running at all during my adult life. Even as a child, I didn't do much running or any other sport. I was more the “club joining” person. But after having three wonderful children, I had put on some unwanted weight. I needed to lose that extra baggage, so I started going for walks. I brought my family on the walks with me. After a while, I decided to run a very small distance just to see if I could. Even though my kids said I looked funny, I decided to run a little more.
I started the C25K (Couch to 5K) program at the beginning of last summer. I got up before my husband went to work and did my runs. This was a huge step for me since I am not a morning person. I completed the program and entered a 5K. I finished! I did more 5Ks, and I even got my mother-in-law to enter a run/walk race with me. She placed first in her age group! I am so proud of her.
Right now, my 11-year-old daughter has seen me running and has seen how happy it makes me, and she wants to train for a race. After battling cancer herself, she has a goal to raise money for cancer detection/prevention. I've told her how races have raised so much money for cancer, and she wants to be a part of that. She has started running with me on 1-2-mile courses and hopes to do a 5K by the fall or sooner. So, I've showed her how to make goals, too!
I've just completed an 8K (5 miles) and plan to do a 10K and a 15K during the summer. I am hoping to keep increasing the distance until I can do a half marathon (13.1 miles) by September.
That's my goal, and I'm running toward it.
- Doris Castle
Favorite Product I've designed:
Garden Love Papers
I love the free-flowing floral edges and backgrounds on these papers, with just a hint of well-worn distressing.
Layout by Doris Castle
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Decorative Frames, Brush Set: Paint Strokes 11001 Biggie and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Foil - Blue 11001 are also available. |
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Join the Scrap Girls Monthly Club and you can have fun with the newest traditional digital and printable scrapbooking looks while saving! (A $40.87 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:
July's Scrap Girls Club designed for you by Keri Schueller
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 Layout by Angie Briggs using July's Scrap Girls Club larger view |
 Layout by Angie Briggs using July's Scrap Girls Club larger view |
 Layout by Angie Briggs using July's Scrap Girls Club larger view |
What are Styles?
Using Photoshop Styles in Your Digital Scrapbooking Layouts
Tutorial created using Photoshop CS2 with Windows XP
Photoshop is a powerful program with amazing capabilities, but it can seem intimidating at times, even to the practiced user. Once you learn the basic principles of Photoshop, it will become a time-saving creative tool for your digital scrapbooking and art. One of the most impressive features of Photoshop is layer styles. This tutorial will teach you what layer styles are and how to use them.
Layer styles allow you to add effects (ranging from a metallic look to shadows and everything in between) to objects on a Photoshop layer with one click of the mouse. This saves an enormous amount of time in the creative process and allows you to make your designs unique.
There are sets of layer styles included with Photoshop which offer you a variety of effects, but you can expand your styles inventory at the Scrap Girls Boutique where we have literally hundreds of layer styles that are beautifully suited to digital scrapbooking.
There are styles that will make an object look like it's made of rusted metal, antique paper, glitter, or plastic. What can be done with layer styles is fascinating and is limited only by the creator's imagination.
In Photoshop, layer styles are located in their own palette, which can be found by going to the top navigation bar and clicking Window and then clicking on Styles. Styles are usually grouped with Color and Swatches. The image below indicates where the Layer Styles Palette can be found. The small square icons each have their respective layer styles applied to them, so you can easily see which effect you are applying to your layer.
Let's explore what layer styles can do. First, create a new document, 12x12 inches, 300 dpi (dots per inch), which is standard for your digital scrapbooking layouts.
Next, in the center of the document, type a word in a bold font in a larger size. Make sure this text layer is activated in the Layers Palette so that the layer styles effects will be applied to the text. In the default layer styles that come with Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, click on several of the layer styles and see how your text changes. Some of the effects are very complex, yet with the power of Photoshop, they are achieved with one simple click. In the example below, the text is duplicated and several layer styles applications are shown.
Beautiful, scrapbook-appropriate layer styles can be found in the Scrap Girls Boutique in their own special section. When shopping for layer styles at Scrap Girls, you will see marketing graphics with a group of circles, ovals, or squares (see example below). Each separate shape shows the effects of a single layer style, and the styles are sold in groups of 3, 6, 9, or 12. There will be one ASL file for each set of styles, so don't be alarmed if you purchase a set of nine styles and you see only the one file. They will all be included in that file.
Layer styles from Scrap Girls are simple to use in Photoshop. To make purchased styles appear in the Layer Styles Palette, click on the small arrow in the upper right corner of the Styles Palette and choose the option Load Styles. At this point, navigate to the purchased layer styles you wish to use and choose the ASL file. You may get a prompt asking if you wish to Append or Replace. If you want only those styles in your palette, choose Replace. If you want to add them to your existing styles, choose Append. It may be a good idea to place your styles in a styles folder on your desktop for quick retrieval. This method for loading layer styles is easy and allows you to load the styles as you need them. Using this method, you may load many layer styles files for use on any project.
To experiment with using layer styles on brushes, create a new 12x12-inch, 300 dpi document. On separate layers, stamp several brushes. In this example, Brush Set: Old Script 2 Super Biggie and Brush Set: Baroque Ornaments 1 were used. Scrap Simple Tools – Styles: Gold 5101 Super Biggie was added to the Styles Palette in the manner described in the paragraph above. Various gold styles were added to the brushes to coordinate with the layout and elements I had in mind, and they worked well with the brushes I chose. A black background was placed behind these brushes to show the effects of the styles.
The brushes with the layer styles were duplicated onto my layout, and the gold complimented the composition and the other elements perfectly. Another gold style was added to the round photo frames as well as the thin border. The use of layer styles made it easy to add touches of elegance to create the right look for this layout.
The next time you are creating a layout and want to add character quickly, consider applying layer styles to fonts and brushes. With all the layer styles available in the Scrap Girls Boutique, you are certain to find layer styles that will express your “style” perfectly!
Layout by Durin Eberhart
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album: Favorites 2, Brush Set: Baroque Ornaments 1, Brush Set: Old Script 2 Super Biggie, In The Moment Collection Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Gold 5101 Super Biggie are also available. |
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Article written by Durin Eberhart
Layout by Chere Kaye Edwards
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Designer Freebie by Keri Schueller coordinates with her Ever So Lovely Collection Biggie
which is part of the Scrap Girls Club offering this Month.
The first four products are included in this month's Scrap Girls Club offering.
Members receive a substantial discount on these club supplies. They are also available elsewhere
in the Boutique at regular prices for those individuals who would rather not join a club.
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: Moments is also available. |
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Today's freebie designed by Keri Schueller
* 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.
Journaling Challenge Chat
Monday, July 11th - 6:00PM MDT
Join Carla (CRS) and Lei (Bride) for a Journaling Chat at 6pm MT on the second Monday of each month. Struggle to find the right words for your layouts? Are your layouts more decorative than descriptive of the moments you're trying to capture? Then you won't want to miss this chat - we'll have a special challenge to encourage you to journal on your pages more! See you there!
NSBR Chat
Monday, July 11th - 7:00PM MDT
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) at 7pm MT!
Use Your Stash Chat
Tuesday, July 12th - 6:00PM MDT
Join Theresa (tiza126) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the chat room at 6pm MT for this month's edition of "Use your Stash!" Don't just collect tons of digital goodies, use them! We will post a challenge to help you get started. See you there!
New Member Chat
Tuesday, July 12th - 7:00PM MDT
Join Pat (PBarnes) and Theresa (tiza126) 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.
Sketch Challenge and Chat
Tuesday, July 12th - 8:00PM MDT
It's time for the Sketch Challenge and Crop! Join Cheri (Cheri T) Tuesday, July 12 at 8pm MDT 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, I'll 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 scraplift the whole thing hook, line, and sinker. ;) All interpretations of the design are welcome and encouraged. Don't worry about any deadlines... post your layout when it works with your schedule. Hope to see you there!
July Message Board Game: Summer Scavenger Hunt!
Dust off those thinking caps and hunting boots! We're having a Summer Scavenger Hunt, and you're invited! Join us for the July Message Board Game, where each Monday through Saturday during the month of July, a member of the Welcoming Committee will post a clue in the official game thread. The clue will describe a product from the Scrap Girls Boutique. To participate, search the Boutique for the product and post a link to the product page in the official game thread.
But wait, there's more! In a new twist to the scavenger hunt game, on certain days you will be sent to the Scrap Girls Gallery to look for layouts using specific products or collections, and then post a link to your layout comment in the official game thread.
Three winners will be drawn from all the members who correctly identify a product or find Gallery layouts throughout the month. Each winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Good luck in your search!
For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls Forum.
July Monthly Layout Contest: As the United States celebrates its independence this month, we'd love to see some examples of how you've gained independence! For July's Monthly Layout Contest, show us your layouts featuring someone displaying independence! It could be a toddler learning independence or a young person out on their own for the first time. You could even scrap about a time you displayed some independence! Be sure to include some journaling to support your photos. Post your layouts in the July Monthly Layout 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 winners, you will receive 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!