World Card Making Day
Saturday, October 6, 2012

IN TODAY'S ISSUE:

• 40% off Cards & Printable Crafts Sale!
• What's New in the Boutique
• Special Event: World Card Making Day
• Tips From The Pros
• Just Because It's Fun
• Scrap Girls Club
• ScrapSimple Club
• Designer Freebie
• What's Happening at Scrap Girls
• Ongoing Opportunities for YOU

World Card Making Day 2012

Welcome to World Card Making Day!

In 2006, Paper Crafts magazine founded the first ever National Card Making Day. The idea behind the event is to connect fellow card makers and celebrate their wonderful creativity. Over the past seven years, the event has grown both in popularity and scale, and now is called World Card Making Day. The celebration always occurs on the first Saturday of October to help kick off the holiday card-making season.

This year, for the first time ever, Scrap Girls is bringing World Card Making Day to you! Today, our entire newsletter is dedicated to card making, with a whole line of fantastic kits that our designers created especially for this event. We also have special card-oriented games and chats going on all day in our Forum. We have posted a list of these events below. Visit our blog to find a helpful article on creating and printing a folded greeting card if you are new to card making (or a little rusty).

And finally, we have a terrific sale going on right now for 40% off cards, crafts, and printables!

Here's something you may not know. Our president, Debbie Cleek, is a card maker from way back! She got into making cards more than a decade ago when Kristin, her "crafty friend," talked her into signing up for a class at a local scrapbooking store. "I really fell in love with it from the start," she says, "and I started making and sending my own cards all the time."

For about six years in a row, she and a friend custom-made all their Christmas cards together, starting in November with designing the card from scratch and then gathering supplies and setting up an assembly line. Each year they produced about 150 cards!

Her favorite way to make a card special is by sewing on objects. "I'm a huge fan of sewing because it adds that special hand-made touch that you can't get from a store-bought card. I like to run the card through my sewing machine to hold on ribbons or other elements."

Whether you make cards traditionally, hybrid, or purely digitally, we hope that you will be inspired to try your hand at making a card today. We would love to see the Scrap Girls Gallery jam-packed with beautiful cards every day this week!

World Card Making Day - Chat Schedule

Saturday, October 6, 2012

• 6:00am EDT – Early Color Challenge
  Join Shannon (tinkerbell11) and Conda (SodScrap) in the chat room for the Color Challenge Chat. We will post a color scheme on the message board to inspire your card making projects. We will be chatting about colors, cards and more! Can't wait to see you there!

• 10:00am EDT - Free Mini Class: Creating and Printing Digital Greeting Cards
  If you're new to digital card making or simply want ideas for easy ways to create and print folded greeting cards, join April(April Showers) at 10:00 am EDT for this free mini class.

• 12Noon EDT - Sketch Challenge
  Did you ever think about using a sketch for something other than a layout? How about a card? How about several cards? Join Cheri (Cheri T) Saturday, October 6 at 12 Noon EDT in the Scrap Girls Chat Room! A few hours before the chat begins, Cheri will post the sketch in the forum. Use it as the starting point for your card; 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.

• 2:00pm EDT – Quick Printable Cards
  Need a card in a hurry? Then this chat is for you! I'll show you how easy it is to print a premade card or use the Assemble Your Own Card sets in the boutique! Join Carla (CRS) for a Quick Printable Cards chat!

• 4:00pm EDT – Creating Cards with ScrapSimple Templates
  Templates aren't just for layouts - they are great for card-making as well! Join Theresa (tiza126) and Theresa (teecee) in the Scrap Girls chat room for ideas and tips on altering your favorite templates for cards.

• 6:00pm EDT - Creating Colophons
  Join Carla (CRS) and Gayle (Smiles) at 6:00 pm for a fun chat about colophons! A colophon is an identifying mark or emblem used by a printer or a publisher. For card makers, it is a little design on the back of the card identifying who made it. We'll have some tips about making them quickly and easily, as well as some ways you can customize them for different cards. They can be silly, pretty, signature you, or whatever suits the card. Think fun! See you in the chat room!

• 8:00pm EDT – Cards aren't just for Birthdays and Christmas!
  Come join Melanie (mbc72) and Theresa (tiza126) in the chat room Saturday, October 6 at 8:00 pm EDT to discuss the different life events that you may need cards for. These could include: invitations of all sorts, graduations, new address, congratulations or any number of other card giving occasions. Come share your ideas and get inspired by other scrappers.

• 10:00pm EDT - Artist Trading Cards
  Join Theresa (teecee) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) to learn more about Artist Trading Cards! What are they? How do you go about designing them? Think miniature works of art. But BEWARE these little beauties are addicting so you may leave the chat with a new project you can't wait to start.

* All Chat times are shown in Eastern Daylight Time. Schedule is subject to change... stay tuned to the Newsletter and Forum for the latest happenings!

Hybrid Greeting Card Basics

Article written using Adobe Photoshop CS6 with Windows 7

Have you ever wondered what to do with those paper scrapping products that you’ve stuffed into the hall closet? Use them along with your digital scrapbooking supplies to create unique hybrid greeting cards!

If you haven't tried one, a hybrid project uses a combination of digital and traditional crafting techniques. In this tutorial, I will show you the basic techniques so you can create your own hybrid greeting cards.

Start by creating your greeting card or opening the PSD file of a card you've already made. I used the 4.25x5.5-inch size (5.5x8.5 inches before it is folded) so it will fit on a half sheet of letter-sized paper. I like to create the entire card digitally first to get the text position and embellishment sizes right. You could simply print and fold this card for a quick greeting, but we're going to add some dimension and a bit of glitter.

After you have your card created, open a blank 8.5x11-inch page in Photoshop or the photo editing software you use. Select all the layers of your completed card, copy them, and then paste them into your blank page. My printer is capable of printing to the edges of the paper, so I positioned the card on the bottom half of the page, allowing me to trim it with one cut. Consider the capability of your printer when you position the card on your page.

Next, decide which layers you would like to replace with traditional supplies, and turn off the visibility of those layers. For example, I turned off the ribbon layer and used a piece of grosgrain ribbon in its place on my card.

Add dimension to your card by printing some embellishments separately. It helps to select items that are easy to cut out. Using the Move Tool, drag the embellishments you've chosen to the blank area of your page, making sure they don't have drop shadows. Allow enough space between them for easy cutting. I moved the flower and duplicated the layer so I have three flowers. If you like to experiment with different techniques, fill in the extra space with more copies of your embellishments. Below you can see the page I printed.

When your page is printed, use either a craft knife or sharp scissors with a fine point to cut out your embellishments. Enhance them with your traditional scrapbooking or card-making supplies.

To create flowers like mine, sponge colored ink on the petal edges then adhere super-fine glitter. When the flowers are dry, shape the petals by lifting them at the base and curling the petals down. I layered the three flowers and held them together with a rhinestone brad.

Finish assembling your card using your printed and traditional embellishments. I finished mine by wrapping a ribbon around the card and gluing the layered flower over it. My family thinks it looks a lot prettier than my original card.

When you want your printed greeting cards to have a special handmade feel, try using these hybrid techniques with your digital scrapbook supplies, a bit of glue, and your imagination!

Card by April Martell
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Article written by April Martell

Member of the Month: October 2012

Congratulations Hilary (englishrose)! The Scrap Girls Team has chosen Hilary as the Member of the Month for October. She will receive a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique and has the honor of wearing the Member of the Month blinkie!

Since joining Scrap Girls in July 2010, Hilary has made a huge impact on the Message Board (Forums) and in the Gallery! Hilary is a regular in the Games Forum and keeps up with Project SG! She regularly posts layouts for our Challenges, too. Thank you, Hilary, so much for helping to make Scrap Girls the fun and friendly purple place that it is!

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by AnnBK
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Commercial license versions of Back Porch Collection Biggie, Time Traveler Collection Biggie and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Absolutely Blended are also available.

Layout by Katie Grace
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Frame Decor, Assemble Your Own: Alpha Strings White, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Label Holders, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Wires 6401, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Antique Paper 5101 Super Biggie and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Metals III Rust 8501 Biggie are also available.

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

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 Saturday 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 receive your gift!

Want to see past winners of the Weekly Layout Contest? Visit the Weekly Layout Winners Gallery on our Forum!

September's Monthly Layout Contest Winners

Layout by princessrunningfingers
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Commercial license versions of Birdsong Collection, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders 3 – Scratched Biggie and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Rosemary are also available.

Layout by Nutmeg
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Congratulations to the winners of the September layout contest. The winning layouts each fit the theme music in our lives. Each winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique.

Congratulations to this month's winners. Please email [email protected] to receive your prize!

Want to see past winners of the Monthly Layout Contest? Visit the Monthly Layout Winners Gallery on our Forum!

Contest Winners

Congratulations to our Simplify September Monthly Forum Game Winners!

$15 Gift Certificate Winners

• Jenna
• Terri M

$5 Gift Certificate Winners

• alsoarty
• Jane in N.Z
• NewGram10
• wifery

Project SG Winner

Congratulations to the winner of the 3rd Quarter drawing for the Project SG Challenge! Anne Marie (A-M) receives a ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template set of her choice as her prize!

Congratulations to these Contest winners! Please email [email protected] to receive your prize, if you have not already received it!

Envelope by Syndee Nuckles
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Designer Freebie by Syndee Nuckles coordinates
with her Printable Card Kit: Thankful

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.

New Member Chat
Tuesday, October 9th - 9:00PM EDT

Join Pat (PBarnes) for the New Member Chat at 9pm ET 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 will need to have Java installed on your computer to access the Live Chat.

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 10th - 12 Noon EDT

Join April (April Showers) each Wednesday at 12 Noon ET for the 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 10th, we'll do a patterned paper challenge! Create a layout on any theme, any topic, and any colors - using multiple patterned papers - at least 2 different patterns! Mix it up!

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!

October's Forum Game: Posting Contest

October is Posting Contest time on the Scrap Girls Forums! You can earn a chance to win a Scrap Girls Gift Certificate by simply being chatty in the Scrap Girls Forums and Gallery. This contest will run from October 1st when we post the thread until 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on October 31st.

To enter the Scrap Girls Forum Posting Challenge, you MUST reply in the Posting Contest Thread with your current post count. Your post count is the number under your Avatar that shows when you post. (NOTE: The number found on your profile is a different number and is calculated differently.)

During the month, post your fingers off! At midnight on October 31st, we will calculate your post count based on the numbers posted in the game thread.

PRIZES

• Those with 50-99 posts will be entered in a drawing for a $5 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate.
• Those with 100-249 posts will be entered in a drawing for a $10 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate.
• Those with 250-399 posts will be entered in a drawing for a $15 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate.
• Those with 400-600 posts will be entered in a drawing for a $20 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate.
• Those with 600 or more posts will automatically win a $5 gift certificate and will be entered in all four drawings!

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

October Monthly Layout Contest: October brings Halloween here in the U.S. and with Halloween comes costumes! Costumes are all around us every day, not just at Halloween. There are costumes in parades, the circus, in shows, and even at parties! Show us the costumes you've seen, and tell us about them! Post your layouts in the October Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight ET on October 31st and you could one of the two people who will win a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Please be sure to list your layout's product credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties.

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 Forum calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in the Eastern Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-New York-New York' as the location for the Eastern time zone.)

Copyright Scrap Girls, LLC 2004-2012

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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!