Note from Ro: Every time I go onto the Scrap Girls Digital Adventures Blog, I look at this post by Jan Hicks. She has become one of our resident fitness gurus this year. In fact, she ran a 5K. She’s very inspiring for someone like me. (And, by the way, Jan... great layout! Love how you use the photo with the template.)

Jan Hicks

This past Saturday, I reached one of my goals for this year - to run in and complete a 5K run. Last year, I ran in this same race, but was only able to run about 15 minutes and had to walk the rest. This year, not only did I run the whole time, but I came in third for my age group!

I can’t begin to tell you how good this feels! I have been working hard this past year to get in shape and it’s really paid off. You see, I don’t really like to run. It’s not my favorite form of exercise. But, Mike and I decided to make it a goal this year to run in a half marathon in November and in order to reach that goal, of course we needed to take on smaller goals.

Run in a 5K? Check! Make a digital scrapbooking layout to commemorate the event? Check! Next on the agenda - running in a 10K. Wish me luck! I’ll keep you posted!

- Jan

Layout by Jan Hicks
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Washed and Worn, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Old Photo Frames Biggie, Brush Set: Paint Stroke, ScrapSimple Alpha Templates: Distressed Monograms and Lettering Delights Becca Font are also available.

SCRAP GIRLS CLUB

Join the Scrap Girls Monthly Club and you can have fun with the newest traditional digital and printable scrapbooking looks while saving! (A $27.94 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:

1 Collection Biggie
1 Paper Super Mini
1 8.5x11 Sheet of Word Art
1 Embellishment Set
1 Assemble Your Own Zoom Page Set
1 Designer's Choice Item

Layout by Brandy Murry using July's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Brandy Murry

If you prefer not to join a club, the Scrap Girls club contents are available at regular prices in the Boutique. You can easily find them right now by checking the What's New? section of the Boutique.

Note: The Scrap Girls Club contents are always available for sale elsewhere in the Boutique at their regular prices once the associated club month is released. But all club contents are totally brand new, never seen before product releases for each month!

SCRAPSIMPLE CLUB

Join the ScrapSimple Monthly Club and you can enjoy the newest ScrapSimple looks while saving! (A $13.95 value for $6.99 or less!)

The new ScrapSimple Club contents are released on the 15th day of the month (or the closest business day to the 15th).

With the ScrapSimple Club, you will receive:

1 ScrapSimple Paper Template Set
1 ScrapSimple Embellishment or Word Art Template Set
1 Brush Set
2 Designer's Choice Items

A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple club is also available here.

Layout by Paula Wright using June's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Paula Wright and Syndee Nuckles

If you prefer not to join a club, the ScrapSimple club contents are available at regular prices in the Boutique. You can easily find them right now by checking the What's New? section of the Boutique.

Note: The ScrapSimple Club contents are always available for sale in the Boutique at regular prices once the associated club month is released. But all club contents are totally brand new, never-seen-before product releases for each month!

ScrapSimple Paper Templates

Have you ever seen the paper templates in the boutique and not really sure how to use them? Once I learned how to use them, it opened up a whole new world of creativity for me. I like a lot of texture and depth in my layouts, especially in the background papers, and using paper templates is one of my favorite ways to achieve that look. I am going to show you an easy way to use paper templates that can give your layout added depth and texture in just a few minutes.

I have a picture of this baby bird from my backyard and I want to put it on a nicely textured background. I love this paper from Keri Schueller’s Emerge Collection Mini. The color is perfect for my photo, but I want to add more dimension to it.

First, I select one of the paper templates from Ursula Schneider’s ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Exotic Lily. I drag it onto my layout and adjust the Blending Modes until I achieve the look that I want. Finding that look is an individual preference, so don’t be afraid to play around and find the one you like the best! For this example, I am using “Overlay.”

Even with the paper template on the layout, I still want more depth. I decide to emphasize the lightest portions of the paper template. To do this, with my paper template layer highlighted, I use the Magic Wand Tool and click on just the light portion of the template that I want to emphasize. This gives me the marching ants.

With the marching ants highlighted, I hit Ctrl+J (or Cmd+J on a Mac) to put just that part outlined by the marching ants onto a new layer. Then, with the new layer highlighted, I add a style to it to make it really pop. Here, I use Erica Hite’s ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Vellum 5401.

Finally, I repeat the first step with a second paper template to add the words that are faintly in the background. I layer it directly over the first paper template layer that we just made. I erase away the parts of the template that fall over my photo and change the Blending Mode until it looks the way I like. You can repeat these steps as many times as you like with as many different paper template layers as you like! The sky’s the limit!

After I have the background paper the way I want it, I add a few embellishments and journaling. Comparing the first screenshot to the final layout, you can see how much depth and texture can be created using ScrapSimple Paper Templates and you can see how easy it really can be!

Have fun playing with the paper templates!

Layout by Amy Flanagan
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Exotic Lily, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Vellum 5401, Brush Set: Urban Grunge Photo Masks and AMC_Happy Font are also available.

Article written by Amy Flanagan

FREE STARTER KIT

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 all of the important questions new digital scrapbookers have. They are all here for you - in one easy to use eBook!

Bonus! Download the free "Warning" Label, too. It was created for you by Valerie Randall as a little bit of extra fun!

Would you like a chance to try digital scrapbooking yourself?

Scrap Girls' Refresh Collection Biggie offers you free 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!

Ready to Take Off? In-depth Tutorials Help You Become a Great Digital Scrapbooker

Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

NEWlY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop CS4, CS3, CS2, and CS
NEWlY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 6.0 and 7.0*
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro X (XI)

(*Have Photoshop Elements 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, or 5.0? We have a tutorial program that will work for you. Please visit the product details page for more information.)

Find out what tens of thousands of people have already learned: Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed is the fastest way to learn how to create digital scrapbooking layouts. And because this series covers so many topics with one purchase, it is a bargain!

No wonder tens of thousands of people have chosen Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed as their method of learning to scrapbook digitally!

In the tutorials, you'll see Ro working on her computer and hear her talking about why she is doing what she is doing. It's like having Ro come to your home and give you private scrapbooking lessons. You can create digital scrapbooking layouts today!

Download and CD versions available.

Photoshop and Photoshop Elements users receive:

30-31 movie tutorials
Companion eBook(s)
Collections
Other supplies

Paint Shop Pro users receive 31 movie tutorials.

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop
MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop Elements

It's time for you to stop playing catch-up in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and start having a blast creating your own digital scrapbooking supplies! You'll also learn all sorts of tricks that professionals and advanced digital scrapbookers use in their layouts. And because Ro covers so many topics in the series, it is one of the most cost-effective methods of moving your skills to a higher level. Join in with the thousands of digital scrapbookers who have chosen to learn advanced skills from Ro. You'll be happy that you did!

Note: These are NOT beginning tutorials. If you get this training and you have never used Photoshop or Photoshop Elements before, or if you aren't pretty sure of yourself in the software, you are going to be lost. You simply have to understand layers, where things are located, and all of the basic, important skills that Ro teaches in her Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed series before you try to use it.

eBooks

Scrap Girls offers a large catalog of eBooks covering topics that will expand your digital scrapbooking abilities to new heights. Here are just a few samples:

The Virtual Canvas eBook

What happens when you move digital scrapbooking beyond the basic page? What happens when you allow the layout to blur the edges between keepsake and art? The Virtual Canvas: Celebrating The Art of Digital Scrapbooking eBook will provide those answers for you.

Digital Photography Simplified

Colour (me) Creative eBook with 36 color swatches

Scrapbooking 911 - 20 Sketches to Revialize Your Digital

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: Making a Just Because Card Using ScrapSimple Card Templates

Nothing could be simpler than learning to scrapbook digitally with Scrap Girls Start to Finish eBooklets. Step by step written guidelines and detailed screenshots will help you learn new digital scrapbooking skills. Included with the eBooklet are the actual digital files you need to create a finished project!

See more titles

Layout by Brandy Murry
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Designer Freebie by Brandy Murry coordinates with her Country Red 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.

CROPS AND CHATS

What's New Chat
Friday, July 3rd - 11:00AM ET

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Becca at 11am ET Friday morning to chat about all the cool new things in the boutique. You never know who else is going to show up! What are you getting? What did you kaboodle? And most importantly show us the layouts or other projects you made with your new goodies! There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat too!

Independence Day Chat
Friday, July 3rd - 9:00PM ET

Join Carla (CRS) for an Independence Day Chat! We'll chat about the country that we live in, how we show pride for our country and how we celebrate. We'll share some patriotic layouts, too!

NSBR Chat
Monday, July 6th - 9:00PM ET

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 Carla (CRS) on July 6th at 9pm ET in the chat room!

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, July 8th - 12:00Noon ET

Join your guest host April Showers for the High Noon Crop every Wednesday. 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 July 8th, we'll do a Stripes Challenge! Create a layout using stripes. Create your own or used striped paper. It doesn't matter as long as your layout has some stripes. You'll have one hour to create a layout and upload to the special High Noon Crop gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour!

Journaling Chat
Wednesday, July 8th - 8:00PM ET

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Becca for a Journaling Chat at 8pm ET. 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!

What's New Chat
Friday, July 10th - 11:00AM ET

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry Lynn at 11am ET Friday morning to chat about all the cool new things in the boutique. You never know who else is going to show up! What are you getting? What did you kaboodle? And most importantly show us the layouts or other projects you made with your new goodies! There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat too!

JULY EVENTS

July Message Board Game: Hide and Seek!

Join us this month on the Message Board for a month long game of “Hide and Seek!” The designers have each chosen their favorite product that they've designed and it's your task to find each one! Every day from July 1-31 a member of the Welcoming Committee will post up a designer's name (or two!) and a clue to their personal favorite product that they've designed. You'll get a special peek into the minds and inspiration of the Scrap Girls designers as you search for their favorites contained in the boutique. When you find the correct product, you'll know it because a special little sunny marker will be waiting for you to let you know “You found it!”

Compile a list of links to the correct products throughout the month and send the list to scrapgirlang@gmail.com by August 1st at 11:59 p.m. (MST) for your chance to win a prize! Everyone who finds all THIRTY-SEVEN products will have their name added into a drawing for one of seven $5 gift certificates to the Scrap Girls boutique! Happy hunting, enjoy getting to know your designers and HAVE FUN!

Layout Contests:

July Monthly Layout Contest: In the good ole summertime, we see lots of lightning. Summertime also brings out the fun side of friends and family members. For the July Monthly Layout Contest, we want to see your layouts featuring photos of lightning or scrap someone with an electric personality! Post your layouts in the July Monthly Layout Contest Gallery before July 31st at Midnight, EDT. The winning layout will receive a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Be sure to include the credits for items used in the description area or under the Details tab.

June Mid-Month Layout Contest: Did you know that June is National Candy Month? To celebrate this wonderful month, we'd like to see layouts inspired by your favorite candy bar! Just post your layouts in the Mid-June Monthly Layout Contest before July 14th at midnight EDT and you will be eligible to win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique. Be sure to include the credits for items used in the description area or under the Details tab. Good Luck!

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.)