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How to Make Elegantly Simple Collage Posters as Holiday Gifts!
Monday, November 21, 2011
IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
- What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?
- A Designer's Life: Armi Custodio
- Scrap Girls Club
- Tips from the Pros: Adapting Digital Layout Templates for Repeated Use
- 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 fourth quarterly drawing winner will be announced in the Saturday, January 7th 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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Halloween Milestones
This year was my twins' seventh Halloween. As the day approached, I was nostalgic about their past Halloweens and how each year brings on changes in how we celebrate and view this holiday as a family.
On their very first Halloween, they were three months old. Of course, I just had to buy cute little outfits for them, along with treat bags! They slept in our arms most of the time as my husband and I proudly showed them off to the neighborhood. We ate all the candy.
The next two years, they were still too young to eat Halloween treats. I still had the say on what costume to wear. My husband and I still ate all the candy.
When the twins turned three, however, they started to express choices in what costume to wear. My girl was in her black color phase, and she chose a black fairy ensemble. My boy was in his superhero phase and chose a Batman costume. They were now allowed to eat some of the goodies they collected. But my husband and I still ate most of the candy.
As the years pass, their costume preferences change and the amount of candy they are allowed to consume increases. Soon, they will want to go trick or treating with their friends instead of trolling the neighborhood with Mom and Dad.
Soon, my husband and I will have to buy our own Halloween candy!
- Armi
Favorite Product I've designed:
Halloween Memories Collection Mini
I like this collection because it has a contemporary color palette and fun elements. I like my layouts clean but embellished, and this collection is perfect for modern, white-space type of scrapbook pages.
Layout by Armi Custodio
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Butterfly Shadows 6301 Mini 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:
November's Scrap Girls Club designed for you by Syndee Nuckles
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 Layout by Syndee Nuckles using November's Scrap Girls Club larger view |
 Layout by Syndee Nuckles using November's Scrap Girls Club larger view |
 Layout by Cheré Kaye Edwards using November's Scrap Girls Club larger view |
Adapting ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Collage Poster for Repeated Use
Note: Tutorial created using Photoshop CS4 with Windows 7
With gift-giving holidays fast approaching, I've been thinking a lot about gifts I can create myself.
I like giving personalized gifts and I like saving money, so digital scrapbooking really comes in handy during the holidays! Last year, we gave both sets of grandparents a framed photo collage featuring pictures of our children. We want to do it again this year because it was so well-received.
Our collage print used ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Collage Poster, and I'd like to do the same this year, but I don't want to give them the identical collage composition.
So I'm going to adapt the templates to create something a bit different this year, and I want to show you how! There are a few different ways of adapting ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Collage Poster so you can use the designs over and over again without them always looking the same. Since they're all quick and easy adaptations, I'll show you several today!
First, look at the dimensions of the layouts available in ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Collage Poster, and by doing a little math, you may notice that the 16x20-inch template can be scaled to the standard 8x10-inch print size and maintain its proportions. The quick and easy way to scale the template to a smaller size is to open your PSD file and then click on Image> Image Size. A small window will open giving you options for resizing. Make sure "Constrain Proportions" is checked and then enter the number 8 in the Width field (the Height will automatically change from 20 to 10 because you've chosen to constrain proportions), and click "OK." Your template will be resized to 8x10-inches, and you can create your collage poster as normal.
For Christmas last year I followed the steps above and created an 8x10-inch print for the grandparents using the 16x20-inch template so there would be plenty of photos of their grandchildren included. This year, I want to include the same number of photos and the same size print, but I don't want to have the template look exactly the same. I'm tweaking it one more way by flipping the template horizontally. This basically makes the template appear as a mirror image of itself, giving you photo openings in different spots and creating a different look than the original template composition. You can do this easily, too. Here's how:
Simply open your PSD file and then click Image> Image Rotation> Flip Canvas Horizontal. (You can also choose Flip Canvas Vertical or Rotate Canvas 180 degrees to create alternate variations on the original template.)
Here is the collage poster the grandparents were given last year:
And here is the collage poster they will receive this year, tweaked just slightly by flipping the canvas horizontally.
One additional way to vary ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Collage Poster is to simply create an actual digital scrapbook layout with it. In Photoshop, create a new 12x12-inch canvas. Then open the layout template of your choice. I chose the 8x10-inch template. (If you choose a template size larger than your layout size, you'll need to follow the resizing options above before following the next step.)
Next, while holding down the Ctrl key, in the Layers Palette click on each layer of the Collage Poster template that you'd like to include on your scrapbook layout. (Holding down the Ctrl key while you click allows you to select multiple layers at once.)
With the layers of your choice selected (they'll be highlighted in blue) and using your Move Tool, drag the selected layers onto your blank canvas and position them as you please.
Then design your layout as you would with any other ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template. I've created this digital scrapbook for my favorite little skater boy and will frame it for his room as a gift to him for Christmas this year!
The versatility of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Collage Poster is limitless and fun to explore. Don't feel bound by the templates as they are. Enjoy adapting them to meet your specific gift-giving needs!
Layout by Ang Campbell
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Collage Poster, Brush Set: Mesh Biggie, Arts N Crafty Kids Collection Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Sanded, Xtreme Teen: Skateboard Collection Biggie and Black and White Plus Collection are also available. |
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Article written by Ang Campbell
Learn to make digital scrapbooking layouts and more! – Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed Ready to learn advanced techniques? – MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed |
Layout by Syndee Nuckles
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Designer Freebie by Syndee Nuckles coordinates with her Picturesque Collection Biggie,
part of this month's Scrap Girls Club offering!
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Butterfly Shadows 6301 Mini are also available. |
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Today's freebie designed by Syndee Nuckles
* 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.
Calendar Chat
Monday, November 21st - 1:00PM MST
Have you thought about making a calendar for your family and friends, but just don't know where to start? Are you hoping you'll finish the one you've started in time to get it out to everyone? Are you just curious about the process? Do you need ideas on printing or binding your finished pages? Join Shannon (tinkerbell11) and Debbie (B&K Mom) for the Calendar Chat at 1pm MT for some encouragement, helpful hints and lots of laughter. Bring your questions, suggestions, and any pages you've already completed. We'll bring the chocolate!
Quote Challenge & Chat
Monday, November 21st - 7:00PM MST
Come join Pat (PBarnes) for the Quote Challenge Crop at 7pm MT. Including a quote on your layout can be a touching and meaningful addition, especially if you use the quote to create your own word art. Here's how it will work. Early on Monday, Pat will post a thread on the Chat section of the board giving you the quote that you will use to make your own word art. It's not hard, and she will have a layout with a Word Art example in the gallery. Then we'll meet in the chat room to have fun, chat, and create our Word Art layout! Everyone can participate and create a layout, even if you can't make the chat. Hope to see you there!
ScrapSimple Club Chat
Tuesday, November 22nd - 6:00PM MST
Join April (April Showers) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) on Tuesday, November 22nd at 6pm 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 your page could be chosen to be featured in the Newsletter and receive a prize? 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!
New Member Chat
Tuesday, November 22nd - 7:00PM MST
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.
Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, November 22nd - 8:00PM MST
Join Theresa (tiza126) in the chat room for a Life Moments Chat at 8pm MT. These chats are meant to get you inspired to scrap about yourself. A theme will be posted earlier in the day to help you get started.
East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, November 23rd - 10:00AM MST
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. On November 23rd, we'll do a Flower Challenge. You can use photos of flowers that are in bloom, use a floral paper, or embellish your page with lots of beautiful flowers. It is up to you! 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!
November Message Board Game: Thankfulness Game!
It's time to give thanks for all the large and small blessings in our life! Each day during November, with the exception of Sundays, a member of the Welcoming Committee will post the name of an item for which we are thankful in the official game thread. To participate in the game, you will search the Scrap Girls Boutique and Gallery for layouts including that item, and then post a link to either the product or gallery page in the game thread.
Each member who links to a Boutique product layout will be entered into a drawing for one of three $3 Gift Certificates. Each member who links to a gallery layout (and leaves love on the layout) will be entered in a drawing for one of five $5 Gift Certificates!
For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls Forum.
November Monthly Layout Contest: This November, let's be a tourist in your own town! Show us around and tell us what makes the area you live in so special! Why do you live there? You can scrap about your town, city, county, or state. Share those layouts in the November Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight MST on November 30th. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. Two layouts will be selected to win a $10 Gift Card 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!