We hope you enjoy our freebies, tutorials, and other ideas provided without charge in our newsletters. Giving you these items increases our bandwidth expenses substantially. You can help us continue this service by simply purchasing and enjoying some of the other outstanding products we offer in our Boutique. (For our regular readers, our freebie is now found at the bottom of the newsletter.)

June 11th is Julianne's 17th birthday! (That's Ro's daughter.) She is constantly asking if her mom will take her to the mall to get her "a little something, something..." Well, JuJu... This one is for you. Scrap Girls is giving everybody a little "something, something" in honor of you because - hey - we think that everybody deserves a little "something, something..." sometimes!

Here's a special 12.5% off coupon just you, our faithful newsletter readers. It is one of those neat coupons that works on everything in the Scrap Girls Boutique (if you get our drift), but it is only good until June 12th, midnight (MDT). That is this Tuesday night so if you put it off, you'll miss treating yourself to the something, something you deserve.

Make SURE you type in the coupon just as you see it because it is case sensitive. Type in Something_Something and then, once you have had fun with your new Scrap Girls goodies, we'd love to see the layouts you made them!

Cute Stuff

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Name of designer: Pat Bowman

Name of layout: Spring

Type of layout: Digital

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS2

Name of challenge: SS Textures

Scrap Girls Ingredients:

• Pretty Primavera Collection Biggie
• Affection Embellishments
• Mission: Embossable Janet Textures Biggie

Other Ingredients:

• Inspiration drawn from the Autumn Leaves 2007 Calendar

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

For the background on this layout I started with the "Solid Tan" Paper from Thao's Pretty Primavera Collection. Then I used the Texturizer Filter in PSCS2 and chose one of the Mission: Embossable Janet Textures at 100% scaling, Relief setting of 3 and Top lighting. You can play around with the Texturizer Filter settings until you achieve a look that you like. I chose the Swirls from the Affection Embellishments to accent the photo because I felt they mimicked the swirls of the textured background.

	Note: Commercial license versions of Mission: Embossable Janet Textures Biggie are also available.

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Name of designer: Jo Corne

Name of layout: The Beauty of Jess

Type of layout: Digital

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS2

Name of challenge: SS Textures

Scrap Girls Ingredients:

• Floral Texture Set
• ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Sticker Maker 4101
• ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Glitter Brights Super Biggie 4101
• ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Chip
• ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Fancy Folds 1

Other Ingredients:

• Font - NewBaskerville BT
• Font - Alexei Copperplate

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

Once I chose the colors of my papers, I blended the two colors together, merged the two layers together and then chose which texture I wanted the paper to have. To choose which texture I wanted, I loaded each different texture to my page through the Filter> Texturize> Texturizer option in Photoshop CS2 until I found the one I wanted to use. I played with the options given to me within the Texturizer until I was satisfied with the final look.

	Note: Commercial license versions of Floral Texture Set, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Sticker Maker 4101, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Glitter Brights Super Biggie 4101, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Chip and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Fancy Folds 1 are also available.

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Name of designer: Edeline Marta

Name of layout: In His Eyes

Type of layout: Digital

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS2

Name of challenge: 5 Designers

Scrap Girls Ingredients:

• A Collage Unleashed Collection Biggie
• Fit To Be Tied
• Urban Love Embellishments
• Grunge Pattern Brush Set
• Persian Breeze Embellishments
• Measure Up Transparency
• Lovin' Letter Embellishments Mini
• Affection Embellishments
• Hipchick Doodles Embellishments
• Font - Lettering Delights Slender

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Downcome

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

First I put the big photo under the frame and then added strings. Then I chose the background paper. Then I put the leaves under the photo and added a paper turn. Then I put the measurement and the pop can tab and added the two birds. Then I added the grunge brush and set the opacity lower. Then I added the dots doodles around my page and added shadows. Then I added the strips and resized them bigger and added two photos on top of them. Put a hinge and latch on it, then the tab and the seal. The last things I added were the journaling and the title.

	Note: Commercial license versions of Grunge Patterns Brush Set and Lettering Delights Slender Font are also available.

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Name of designer: Susan Neff

Name of layout: Determination

Type of layout: Digital

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Name of challenge: 5 Designers

Scrap Girls Ingredients:

• Chip Paper
• ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Journal Strips Biggie
• Trendy Dude Solids Paper Mini
• ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Urban Love
• Sew Simple Digital Embellishment Mini Stitching Set 1
• A Little Worn Out Alpha
• ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Round Tags Biggie 5401
• ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Rusted 5201
• Lettering Delights Underwood Pica Font

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To create the accent strips underneath the photo, I first created the paper by opening the sheet of Blue Paper from Trendy Dude Solids Paper Mini, then layering in the Grunge Template from ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Urban Love. I adjusted the Grunge Template's Blending Mode to "Color Burn" and opacity to 60%, and merged the two layers. I then brought in a template from ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Journal Strips Biggie, and layered the template underneath the paper. I grouped and merged the paper layer to the journal strips layer. Next I activated my layout document, and brought in this new embellishment. I placed the embellishment under the upper left of the photo. I duplicated the embellishment, rotated the new layer, and put the duplicate under the lower right of the photo. To add the finishing touch, I brought in a strip of stitching from Sew Simple Digital Embellishment Mini Stitching Set 1, and lined it up along one of the journal strips. Because the stitching seemed a little dark, I duplicated the layer, changed the duplicate layer's Blending Mode to "Screen" and opacity to 50%. I then merged the duplicate stitching layer to the original layer. I then duplicated this again, and moved the duplicate to the other journal strip embellishment.

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Journal Strips Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Urban Love, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Round Tags Biggie 5401, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Rusted 5201 and Lettering Delights Underwood Pica Font are also available.

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Name of designer: Melanie Johnson

Name of layout: Amazing Grace

Type of layout: Digital

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS2

Name of challenge: 5 Designers

Scrap Girls Ingredients:

• Art Journal Embellishment Biggie
• Curled Edges Embellishments Mini
• Dear Diary Collection Biggie
• InfoStrip Embellishment Mini
• Janet Embellishment Biggie
• Journey Paper 2
• Photo Transfer Frame Embellishments
• ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Yesterday
• ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Collage 2101 Mini
• ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Embed 1801
• ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Swirls 5001 Mini

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Delicious

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To give my layout the look of a collage, I ripped up the paper I wanted to include so I would have real torn edges. I took photos of the pieces of paper (you could also scan them), imported the JPGs into Photoshop, and then used the Magic Eraser Tool to remove the background. This created strips that I then dragged into my layout. To further increase the interest of the torn edges, I added the Curled Edge Embellishment Mini to the bottom edge of the larger of the two pieces of paper. I used the Double Underline Embellishment from the Dear Diary Collection to achieve the look of a hand-drawn line on the upper piece of paper.

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Yesterday, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Collage 2101 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Embed 1801 and ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Swirls 5001 Mini are also available.

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Name of designer: Heidi Dillon

Name of layout: Mei Sheng

Type of layout: Digital

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS2

Name of challenge: SS Textures

Scrap Girls Ingredients:

• Legacy Paper Biggie
• Mission: Embossable Mingei Textures
• ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates - Layered: Be Square
• Pretty Primavera Alpha and Word Art
• ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Chipboard Distressed 4104 Mini

Other Ingredients:

• Font - CK Taliatype

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To create the title and frame, I used a clipping mask (Ctrl+Alt+G) to clip a Cream Paper from Keri's Legacy Paper Biggie to each individual letter and frame. I then applied Cheryl's Chipboard Layer Style to each individual item also. Doing it this way allowed for each item to be rounded and scuffed up on its own edges; if I had merged the title together and then applied the style, only the edges of the word would have been scuffed, not each individual letter.

	Note: Commercial license versions of Mission: Embossable Mingei Textures, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates - Layered: Be Square and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Chipboard Distressed 4104 Mini are also available.

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Name of designer: Erin Hooper

Name of layout: Touching in Colour

Type of layout: Digital

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Name of challenge: SS Textures

Scrap Girls Ingredients:

• Grunge Textures 2
• Beach House Collection Biggie
• ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Line Dry
• ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Inked Edges Basics 4101
• ScrapSimple Tools: Styles - Embed 1801

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Vladmir Script

Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To add texture to the layout, I used the Texturizer Filter on both the background and the photo. For the background I created a new 12x12 transparent document, filled it with a soft, dusky blue colour and applied Angie's Line Dry Paper Template. I then went to Filter> Texturizer and loaded Lori's Grunge Textures. I chose a rough and scratched texture and increased the relief to make it more noticeable. I then placed my photo on top and applied another of the Grunge Textures to it as well, creating a layout that looks touchable as well as colourful.

	Note: Commercial license versions of Grunge Textures 2, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Line Dry, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Inked Edges Basics 4101 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Embed 1801 are also available.

If you have praise, comments, or questions for any of our Product or Layout Designers, 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.

Life Muses by Ro: Why could Mandy be in Chariots of Fire?

Note from Ro: Today's muse was stolen from the Scrap Girls blog. (Ha, Mandy!) I just loved her thoughts about why she scrapbooks.

Why do you scrapbook?

I'm realizing something about myself. I don't really think of myself as a scrapbooker. I know, that's probably the stupidest thing I could say since I work for a digital scrapbooking company, but it's true. At least I don't think I scrapbook for all the reasons I think I'm supposed to.

I don't scrapbook to capture all of the memories I have with my kids. I don't scrapbook to document all the details of my life. I don't even scrapbook so that I can pass my books on to my children some day. I mean, if that was the case, I would do a much better job of actually printing my digital scrapbook pages out and putting them into books.

The reason that I find myself attracted to scrapbooking is because it's a way to process life creatively. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure in the future I'll love to look back on my pages and that will be a nice by-product of scrapbooking. But really, I enjoy it because I am wired in such a way that art is how I do life. In grade school I drew cartoons of people. In high school I drew and doodled in my class notes. In college, I made collaged letters to send to my fiancé and I kept a scrapped journal. I just can't imagine life without art.

• Creating a scrapbooking page helps me appreciate a happy moment with my kids.

• Creating a scrapbooking page helps me process a difficult lesson I'm learning in my life.

• Creating a scrapbooking page helps me "stop and smell the roses" in my own life. It's like a deep breath. It means something to me right now.

So I'm not in it for the documented memories, all organized properly on a shelf. I try to fight the pressure of needing to have every single photo incorporated into a scrapbooking layout. I honestly don't do it for my kids. I do it because I need art in my everyday life. I do it because God made me this way, and very much like that man in Chariots of Fire, I feel God's pleasure every time I use the gifts He's given me.

Why do you scrapbook?

- Mandy Steward

Enjoy an eBook collection of Ro's popular Life Muses from the first half of 2006 in an easy way to print, save, or purchase as a gift for someone you love.

Way Cool Stuff Product Review: Scrap Simple Photo Templates

Note: Review written with screenshots from Photoshop CS2.

Scrap Simple Photo Templates are so versatile. You can use them for things like creating papers or making brushes, but today I'm going to show you how you can make textures out of them. I will be using Photoshop CS2 for this tutorial.

I love flowers and have a Lily Garden that I'm very proud of. Every summer it rewards me for my hard work with a lovely display of many varieties and colors of day lilies. I wanted to show off one of them in a layout. I wanted the flower in my layout to look like it was resting on a field of grass, and I wanted texture. I chose to use one of Jan Hicks' Scrap Simple Photo Templates: Grasses 3201 Mini, specifically, "JHI_SSPhoto_Grasses-3201_2-12x12.jpg."

Next we need to convert this Photo Template to black & white, and I'm going to show you my favorite way to do that. Set your foreground/background colors in Photoshop to the default colors (keyboard shortcut "d"). Create a New Adjustment Layer by selecting from the file menu Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Gradient Map (use the default settings).

Select "OK" and this screen will appear:

The gradient showing will be constructed from whatever colors we have set for our foreground and background before we perform this step. This is why we set our colors to the default colors of black foreground and white background earlier. Select "OK."

Right-click on the Gradient Map Layer and select "Merge Down" from the fly out menu. Our Photo Template now looks like this:

We could use the file like this, but I chose to give it a little more contrast by adjusting the levels. From the menu bar select Image> Adjustments> Levels and change the Input Levels to 37, 1.00, 255. Select "OK."

Now our Photo Template looks like this:

This will be our new texture file. Save this file as a PSD file in the folder where you store your textures. The default folder is located here: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS2\Presets\Textures. I have my own Preset folder where I save all of my Presets outside of Photoshop. That way if I have to reinstall Photoshop or upgrade it, I won't lose everything I have purchased or created. Just remember where you save it so you can use it in the Texturizer Filter later.

I chose a paper from the Sage Collection, "DMI_Sage_wrinkle.jpg," to receive the texture:

To apply the texture, from the menu bar in Photoshop select Filter> Texture> Texturizer. Click on the arrow next to Texture and select "Load Texture." Then browse to the place you have stored your texture file and select it. I chose the following settings: Scaling 100%, Relief 22, Light: Bottom, and I checked "Invert." Select "OK."

After applying the texturizer my paper looked like this:

Here's a close-up view of the texture:

I wanted to take this a step further so I opened the original Photo Template and dragged it on top of my texturized background paper. On the Photo Template layer I changed the Blending Mode to "Linear Burn" and changed the opacity to 25%.

This was my result. The texture shows up better when viewed in full resolution.

Here is my completed layout:

Layout by Pat Bowman
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	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Photo Templates: Grasses 3201 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Sticker Maker 4101, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Chipboard 1802 Mini, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Yesterday and Lettering Delights Debonaire Font are also available.

Review written by Pat Bowman

What's Happening at Scrap Girls?

Scrap Girls is Looking for Teachers!

Scrap Girls (www.scrapgirls.com) is looking for qualified digital scrapbooking teachers for the newly expanded Scrap Girls University. Teachers will be required to create class PDFs which will be reviewed prior to class. Teachers have complete flexibility in scheduling classes. Candidates must have strong skills in Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or Paint Shop Pro and have the desire to teach online classes. They must be warm and friendly, comfortable handling fast-paced chat room situations, and able to easily handle questions that arise regarding their particular software area of expertise. Candidates will be required to audition for this paid position. There will be a list of topics available from which classes can be developed, however the teachers are encouraged to present their own ideas for approval as well. Please contact Jan Hicks at jan@scrapgirls.com for more details. If you are interested in applying, please forward to Jan an up-to-date resume as well as a sample tutorial you have written.

		Sketch Crop Challenge Thursday, June 7th - 9:00PM ET Join me, sprinklz, for a Sketch Challenge and Crop, Thursday, June 7th at 9pm ET in the Scrap Girls Chat Room! Like getting a little jump start on your layouts? Then this challenge is for you! A few hours before the challenge begins, I'll post a sketch for you to use as the starting point for your page. You can be inspired by the basic arrangement, the amount of photos, or copy it literally. All interpretations are welcome and encouraged! Looking forward to seeing you there! High Noon Chat and Crop Wednesday, May 13th - 12:00Noon ET Join your host Dee Ann Decker (Sailbeachkatz) for the High Noon Crop every Wednesday at Noon eastern time. 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 June 13, we'll do a color challenge! Create a layout using aqua. A trendy, fresh color that looks great paired with pinks, and pops against black or white, aqua is an up and coming trend. You'll have one hour to create a layout and upload to the special High Noon Crop gallery. You'd be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! Meet new friends and have fun in the chat room! We hope you'll join us! Art Inspired Layout Crop Challenge Thursday, June 14th - 9:00PM ET Come join me, sprinklz, at 9pm EST for an Art-Inspired layout challenge crop! I'll share a piece of non-scrapbook related art and challenge you to create your own layout -- using it for inspiration! You might find inspiration in the colors, the shapes, the texture, the overall theme or more... there is no right or wrong way! A few hours before the crop (for those who like a head start), I will share the art with you at the message board. Then at 9pm EST, we'll meet in the chatroom to chat, share how the art inspired us, and admire our completed layouts! Don't miss it! Quote Challenge Crop Sunday, June 17th - Time TBA Here's how it will work. On Sunday, I'll post a thread on the challenge board giving you the quote and link to free WordArt if you would like to use it. Then we'll meet in the chat room to have fun, chat, and create our Word Art layout! I'll post the time in my post, as I will change the time around each time to allow participation by our international folks. The Word Art link will be active for a week, so everyone can participate and create a layout, even if you can't make the chat. Hope to see you there! New Member Chat Tuesday, June 19th - 9:00PM ET Hey New Members - this chat is for you! Join Welcoming Committee Members Pat and Patti for an evening of chatting and fun, at the New Member Chat, Tuesday June 19th, at 9pm ET! To join, just come to the Scrap Girls Chat Room by clicking on the "Live Chat" link from either the Message Board or the Scrap Girls home page. This chat is a great way to meet other digi scrappers and ask any questions that you may have. And, there are bound to be lots of laughs and a few noises too! Our more experienced members are always welcome to join the party too! Hope to see you there! High Noon Chat and Crop Wednesday, May 20th - 12:00Noon ET Join your host Dee Ann Decker (Sailbeachkatz) for the High Noon Crop every Wednesday at Noon eastern time. 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 June 20, we'll do a details challenge! Create a layout using showing off a unique detail. It can be a close-up photo of a person, place or thing. It can be a layout focusing ona very narrow subject. You'll have one hour to create a layout and upload to the special High Noon Crop gallery. You'd be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! Meet new friends and have fun in the chat room! We hope you'll join us!						June Contests June Board Game: Ahhh, June. Time to slow down and get ready for the long hot days of summer, right? NOT! It's time to get your fingers moving and get chatty. We want to see you post the most! The top 5 posters this month will win a $10 gift certificate to the boutique! We've got a system to keep track of your posts. If you want to keep your own tally, note your post count before you start posting on Friday June 1st. Contest ends on the 30th of June at Midnight ET! June Layout Contest: Take me out to the ballgame! It is surely the time of year to kick back and take in a local ballgame. Your challenge this month, should you choose to accept it, is to create a layout involving a sport or game of some sort (i.e.: a toddler kicking around a ball, or a high school track meet, or a pro baseball game, and anything in between!) Post your layout in the appropriate gallery and be eligible to win a $10 gift certificate to the boutique! Ongoing Opportunities Customer Muses: It occurred to us recently that it might be wonderful for our readers to share with each other their own versions of Ro's Life Muses. We know each of you has a wonderful story to tell. To have your own essay considered for publication as a muse in the column for our special Saturday newsletter, send your essay to hello@scrapgirls.com. 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! We'd love to introduce you to our readers, too! If you would like to be spotlighted, send the following items to hello@scrapgirls.com: - 500-900 word essay about your experience with digital scrapbooking, Scrap Girls, and specific examples of how we have helped you. - A 300-pixel wide, 72 dpi copy and a 600-pixel wide, 72 dpi copy of a layout you've created that uses Scrap Girls products. - A complete list of any and all supplies used on the layout. - A 100-pixels wide, 72 dpi picture of yourself. (How fun to see who you are!) - Permission to use your statement. If your entry is selected, you'll win a $25 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Customer Freebies: We get a lot of requests from you asking if you could share a freebie with your Scrap Girls friends, and we have come up with a way to do it. On Saturdays we will be sharing freebies created by you, if they are available. If you are interested in participating, download this PDF with the specifications and you'll be on your way.Please note that if you choose to use any Scrap Girls tools or templates in your submission, commercial licenses for those products are required. (Even our own designers must purchase commercial licenses for any items they wish to use in a non-personal manner!) If your freebie is chosen, you will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Customer Information Forum: If you know of an amazing recipe, tip, trick, tutorial, inspirational piece or cool new software that you'd love to share with us, let us know! Send a short write-up to hello@scrapgirls.com. If your entry is used in our Saturday newsletter, you will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $10 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 Eastern Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-New York' as the location for the Eastern time zone.)

Today's Freebie

Layout by Theresa Kavouras
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	Designer Freebie coordinates with Police Force Collection Mini

* 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.

Free Digital Scrapbooking Starter Kit

The free digital scrapbooking stater kit section is a standard newsletter feature for the benefit of the large number of new subscribers that join our list every day.

		Would you like a chance to try digital scrapbooking yourself? Scrap Girls Refresh Collection Biggie offers you 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!						If you read nothing else, read this! 15 Things You NEED to Know to Become a GREAT Digital Scrapbooker. It's so addictive; it ought to come with a warning label! 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 questions about digital scrapbooking that Ro is asked all day long, every day of the week, and each day of the year. You don't have to wonder about important questions like how to back up your files, whether you need a 12x12 printer to scrapbook digitally (and which one to buy), or what type of computer software is required to create digital scrapbooking layouts. The answers are all here for you - in one easy to use eBook! Bonus! Download the fun "Warning" Label, too. It was created for you by Valerie Randall as a little bit of extra fun!

* 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.