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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Branded 10601 - PS and Farmstead Collection are also available. |
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Layout by Paula Wright
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These first three products are included in this month's ScrapSimple 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 Embellishment Template: Stitching Studio, Brush Set: Frayed Edges and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Lace It Up are also available. |
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Layout by Shalae Tippetts
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Layout by Angela Blanchard
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Layout by Armi Custodio
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Layout by Angie Briggs
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These three 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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Layout by Kim Meeder
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Layout by Amanda Fraijo-Tobin
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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.
Morning Inspiration
Monday, July 25, 2011
IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
- Cute Stuff
- A Designer's Life: Elisha Barnett
- Scrap Girls Club
- Back To Basics: What are Custom Shapes?
- Designer Freebie
- What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
- Available Online Classes
- Ongoing Opportunities for YOU
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AVAILABLE
Join Rose Ann Bright in the six session Intermediate level course, Mastering Brushes for Photoshop. This in-depth class is perfect for the digital crafter who wants to take their brushwork above and beyond the basics taught in the Secrets tutorials. Beautiful brush skills taught in this class will turn ordinary layouts into the extraordinary! This class includes the Mastering Brushes for Photoshop eBook, six one-hour webinars, and access to a private class forum and gallery. Following each session, students will receive a video of the webinar. By following the techniques in this class, you will gain the knowledge to use the brush as a versatile tool in your digital crafting arsenal. If you have already purchased Mastering Brushes for Photoshop, please email [email protected] to receive a store credit towards the purchase of this class. Important: This Intermediate Level class is for Adobe Photoshop users. Students are required to understand the basic skills taught in the Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed: Photoshop and MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed programs prior to starting the course. This information will not be reviewed as part of the course!
Join Anna Mansfield in the six session Intermediate level course, Mastering Brushes for Photoshop Elements. This in-depth class is perfect for the digital crafter who wants to take their brushwork above and beyond the basics taught in the Secrets tutorials. Beautiful brush skills taught in this class will turn ordinary layouts into the extraordinary! This class includes the Mastering Brushes for Photoshop Elements eBook, six one-hour webinars, and access to a private class forum and gallery. Following each session, students will receive a video of the webinar. By following the techniques in this class, you will gain the knowledge to use the brush as a versatile tool in your digital crafting arsenal. If you have already purchased Mastering Brushes for Photoshop Elements, please email [email protected] to receive a store credit towards the purchase of this class. Important: This Intermediate Level class is for Adobe Photoshop Elements users. Students are required to understand the basic skills taught in the Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed: Photoshop Elements and MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed: Photoshop Elements programs prior to starting the course. This information will not be reviewed as part of the course! |
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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 third quarterly drawing winner will be announced in the Saturday, October 8th 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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Morning Inspiration
My alarm is set for 5:30 a.m., but often I wake up just a few minutes before it goes off. I hit the snooze button, just in case I doze back off as I'm listening to the morning birdsong and relishing the soft cotton sheets and the comfort of the mattress. The alarm rings again, and I'm brought back to reality, remembering that it's time for morning prayers.
The dog knows my routine, and by now, he's up, too. I get up, and he and I go downstairs quickly, lest the clicking of his nails on the hardwood floor wake my husband, Steve, who was up late the night before. The dog goes out, and I start the coffee. I let the dog back in and give him his meds, unload the dishwasher, and piddle around in the kitchen until the coffee's ready. The fragrant brew is poured into a carefully selected mug that fits my mood, and cream is added. I glance at the clock and smile - I still have nearly two hours of quiet to myself - to devote to whatever I wish.
I feel fresh and inspired at this time of day, and mostly this time is spent at my computer scrapping or designing. My desk is rather unorganized, scattered with books, papers, and what might look like junk or trash to the untrained eye. During the day, I place things on my desk that I want to look at more closely in the morning. These bits and pieces are ideas and inspiration and might include an ad from a magazine, a greeting card, a bit of ribbon that I've run across, or a note I've written to myself.
My workflow is as unorganized as my desk. If I get stuck or get bored with some mundane task, I'll check my email, the Scrap Girls Message Board, Facebook, or the blogs I have bookmarked. This may not seem very productive, but a lot of times I'll get the idea or the break I need in order to move forward on my project. I love this time. It energizes me, and I feel like a true artist - seeing my inspiration lead to vision, and my vision become reality.
Eventually, the sound of my daughter's alarm will break my concentration. She won't disturb me, but that's my signal that I need to start wrapping things up. I sigh. The time passes so quickly. Before I'm ready to quit, my husband's alarm rings. Now I must leave my desk and get myself ready for work.
My job is part-time in the mornings, so I eke out some more time for design in the afternoon. But there will be distractions and demands of household and family. I might find some more time in the evening, but my mind and body will be tired. It is never the same as in the mornings.
In bed at night, Steve and I reflect on the day, and we give thanks for the many blessings we have. Afterwards, he will continue reading or working quietly into the night, and I will drift off to sleep, happily anticipating the next morning inspiration.
- Elisha
Favorite Product I've designed:
Homebody is designed in the color palette of my own home and includes bits and pieces of my decor. The colors make me feel at peace, and the word art reflects the comforts of home and family.
Layout by Elisha Barnett
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: My Blessings and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Interactive Text 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 Keri Schueller using July's Scrap Girls Club larger view |
 Layout by Keri Schueller using July's Scrap Girls Club larger view |
What are Custom Shapes?
Note: Tutorial created using Photoshop CS3 with Windows 7
Photoshop and Photoshop Elements have the ability to use custom shapes. This little-known tool within these programs gives you the ability to create elements at different sizes without a loss of quality.
How do they work?
The main shapes that you can draw within Photoshop are simply squares, shapes, and lines. Access them by selecting the Custom Shape Tool in the Tools Palette, then make choices in the options bar at the top of the screen.
What makes these shapes special is that instead of being created by using pixels (a series of dots strung together), they are created using vectors, a series of lines and points that the computer can read. As the size of the shape is adjusted, the computer calculates the shape based on those points and lines, rather than just multiplying the pixels. The result of using vector-based images is a super-sharp edge at any size.
The fun comes in when you realize that you can add to the custom shapes available within Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. When you purchase a set of ScrapSimple Tools – Custom Shapes from the Scrap Girls Boutique, you will have a file that can be installed within that Custom Shape Tool. Those shapes will be installed and ready to be used on any layout. (To learn how to install these files in your program, check out the Scrap Girls ScrapSimple Instructions Handbook (Free ScrapSimple basics eBook).
Using Custom Shapes
Custom shapes can be used for many purposes. The easiest would be to use them to create a custom element for your digital scrapbooking layout. This can be as simple as choosing a solid color and creating your shape. Add detail and dimension by coloring in with a second color brush, or erase with a grungy brush to add distressing.
Another idea would be to use a custom shape as a clipping mask for a digital background paper or a photo. When you think of all the options for adding a custom Photoshop style set to your custom shapes, the possibilities are endless.
Because custom shapes can be resized to any size without losing quality, you can create an element and then make a background paper to match with a repeating pattern of the same shape.
Custom shapes are easy and fun to use, and they come in so many styles, you're sure to find them very useful for customizing your digital scrapbooking layouts.
Enjoy!
Layout by Melissa Renfro
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Birdies 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001, Well Loved Hardware Embellishment Mini, Well Loved Journaling Embellishment Mini, Well Loved Collection Biggie and Brush Set: Splatter are also available. |
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Article written by Melissa Renfro
Learn to make digital scrapbooking layouts and more! – Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed Ready to learn advanced techniques? – MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed |
Layout by Angie Briggs
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Designer Freebie by Keri Schueller coordinates with her Ever So Lovely Collection Biggie,
part of this month's Scrap Girls Club offering!
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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.
New Member Chat
Tuesday, July 26th - 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.
East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, July 27th - 10:00AM MDT
Join April (April Showers) each Wednesday at 10am MT for the East Coast High Noon Crop. All coasts and time zones are welcome! These crops are designed to allow you to work on your own photos and themes simply giving participants a one hour goal and a fun, new challenge each week. This week we're doing a circle challenge. Create a page using at least one circle. It can be a circular embellishment, polka-dots, brads - it is your choice! Create your layout and upload it to the special High Noon Crop Gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you! Hope to see you in the chat room!
Ad Inspiration Challenge and Chat
Thursday, July 28th - 7:00PM MDT
Join Pat (PBarnes) at 7pm MT for an Ad Inspiration Challenge and Chat. A few hours before the chat, a magazine, newspaper or online 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!
What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique Chat
Friday, July 29th - 9:00AM MDT
Join April (April Showers) and Theresa (teecee) 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!
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!