Making a Collage Desktop Wallpaper
Thursday, January 26, 2012

IN TODAY'S ISSUE:

• 22.9% off National Hobby Month Sale!
• What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?
• Scrap Girls, Etc.
• ScrapSimple Club
• Tips From The Pros: Tips for Photographing a Baby
• Designer Freebie
• What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
• Ongoing Opportunities for YOU

Syndee Nuckles

Make a Photo Collage Desktop Wallpaper Using Picasa

Many of you already use Picasa to organize and manage your photos and digital scrapbooking kits, but did you know you can easily create a photo collage to set as your desktop wallpaper? You won't believe how simple it is to do!

If you haven't yet downloaded Picasa, I would highly recommend it, and best of all, it's free! Download the latest version here: http://picasa.google.com/

Let's begin by opening up Picasa. If this is the first time you are using Picasa, it will start loading your photos and you can choose which photos you want to use for your collage. Select 8 or more photos by holding down Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (PC). You will see the photos you have selected in the photo bin at the bottom left of the Picasa window.

Next, hit the collage button on the bottom right.

You will now be in the Collage window and your photos will be in a scattered collage. On the bottom of the window, you will see two buttons, "Scramble Collage" and "Shuffle Pictures." Play around with these buttons and see which collage effect you like best.

On the left side of your Picasa window, you will see the Settings pane where you can choose the type of collage you want.

The examples below are the "Mosaic" and the "Frame Mosaic" collage layout. There are also grid and contact sheet layouts. This is where you play until you like how it looks!

There is also a Multiple Exposure effect that superimposes pictures over one another. I found that it's best to limit the number of photos you use. I just used two in the example below. You could really come up with some creative desktops with this setting!

In the settings pane, you can also add frames to all the photos in your collage. Choose "Instant Camera," "White Border," or "No Border." Just click on one of the three square buttons under Picture Borders.

You can also add a solid color or use an image to the background. To add a color, just click on the color box next to the eyedropper and a color picker will drop down. Use the eyedropper to choose a color, and that's all there is to it!

Under the Background Options, you can choose the page format: The current display size, HD, or you can choose 5x7, 8x10, CD Cover, etc., to use for other projects. Now, we are ready to create the collage by hitting the "Create Collage" button on the bottom left.

Once your collage has been created, it will open up a new pane with options to add text, edit the collage, add effects, and fine-tune it. Make sure to name it something easy to remember. Picasa will save it into a folder named "Collage."

After you are happy with the results, it's time to make it your desktop!

For Mac users:
Find your newly created image in your finder window, right-click on it and scroll down to "Set Desktop Picture."

For PC users:
Find your newly created image in your Windows Manager window, right-click on it and scroll down to "Set as Desktop Background."

I hope you have fun playing around with the photo collage desktop wallpaper feature in Picasa! Stayed tuned, because next week we will be making desktop wallpaper in Picasa using our digital scrapbooking supplies!

Happy desktops!

Scrap Girls, Etc. is a weekly column pulling bits and pieces from all over Scrap Girls. Stay tuned each week as Scrap Girls' team members bring you tutorials, musings, recipes, interviews, design/software tips and tricks, layout walk-throughs, and who knows what else!

		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). A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple Club is also available here. With the ScrapSimple Club, you will receive: 1 ScrapSimple Paper Template Set 1 ScrapSimple Embellishment Template 1 Brush Set 2 Designer's Choice Item CLUB EXCLUSIVE! Nano Collection CLUB EXCLUSIVE! Designer's Choice Item CLUB EXCLUSIVE! 2 Tutorials January's ScrapSimple Club has been created for you by Elisha Barnett & Amanda Fraijo-Tobin Club Exclusive! Nano Collection Club Exclusive! Designer's Gift
Layout by Elisha Barnett using January's ScrapSimple Club larger view	Layout by Amanda Fraijo-Tobin using January's ScrapSimple Club larger view	Layout by Elisha Barnett using January's ScrapSimple Club larger view

Photography Focus - Tips for Photographing a Baby

Tutorial created using Photoshop CS5 with Windows 7

Babies are the most miraculous gift, and as parents we want to capture their precious innocence. When my children were born, I didn’t have the slightest clue how to capture really good pictures of them. Occasionally I got lucky and ended up with some good ones, but most of them were just run-of-the-mill pictures. I’ve learned a lot about photography since my kids were babies. I’d like to share a few tips that I’ve learned over the last few years.

1. Vary your camera angle. Taking the picture from where you’re standing will probably not give you the best result. Try getting up high and shooting downward. Or have someone hold baby up high and shoot up towards the sky with the blue sky as a background. My favorite is getting right down on their level. This might require getting dirty or becoming a contortionist, but I promise, it’s well worth the effort.

2. Pay attention to your background. You don’t want too many distracting elements in your background. This may require you to move to one side or maybe you’ll need to zoom in closer to the subject. For example, take this straight-out-of-the-camera photo below. It is one of my favorite pictures of my daughter when she was two-and-a-half months old. See how I got down on her level? However, the window in the background makes me cringe every time I look at this image.

larger view

Layout by Shari Payne
larger view

Commercial license versions of Children's Classic Collection Biggie, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 Clustered and Clean and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

3. Try for a more professional look. Set up a little home studio by putting up a backdrop in a room with lots of natural light. Make sure baby is well fed, happy, and tired. Ensure that the room is plenty warm if you plan on taking the oft-loved, bare baby shots. One trick I’ve discovered is to put baby in the position you want them and then hold them there gently but firmly with warm hands until baby settles in and falls to sleep. This next picture will show you what a typical photo shoot looks like with one of my recent clients. I happen to have a backdrop and lighting system, but these things are easily made with items you might have around the house.

larger view

4. Zoom in. Make sure you remember to zoom in close to those tiny little details like fingers and toes. Those brand new, little wrinkly digits plump up all too quickly so get those detail pictures right away.

5. Remember to be patient. I have had shoots last as long as two hours while waiting for baby to be fed, happy, and sleepy. But most of all, remember to enjoy this time. They grow up way too fast.

larger view

larger view

Layout by Shari Payne
Photos by Shari Payne Photography
larger view

The first product listed below - 1 Scrap Girls A Narrative Collection - is available free of charge in the Scrap Girls Boutique! This digital scrapbooking kit is so perfect for every occasion! Share the story of your loved ones with this collection in neutral shades of colors and patterns.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 Absolutely Blended, ScrapSimple Type Paths: Around the Page, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and Lettering Delights Artsy Font are also available.

Article written by Shari Payne

Learn to make digital scrapbooking layouts and more! – Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed Find out how easy it can be to learn how to create digital scrapbook layouts, edit photos, use and make brushes, recolor papers and embellishments, make your own simple backgrounds and embellishments, save and share your layouts and much more! Ready to learn advanced techniques? – MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed Learn to use paper templates, embellishment templates, custom shapes, styles, and brushes to make your own supplies. Learn advanced clipping mask and lighting blend techniques. Learn to make and use patterns. Learn to make brushes from your own doodles. Learn to extract images from photos. Learn work flow techniques that will speed up the layout creation process and advanced photo editing skills and much, much more!

Layout by Pebbles Jones
larger view

Designer Freebie by Pebbles Jones coordinates with her
Easy page Pro: 8.5x11 Project Memories Portrait 2012 Calendar

Today's freebie designed by Pebbles Jones

* 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.

Swap Crop Chat
Saturday, January 28th - 6:00PM MST

It's time for the Swap Crop Chat with Carla (CRS)! We've done the swapping and created the layouts, now it's time to chat about all the gorgeous layouts! I don't know what it is, but these swaps bring out the best in everyone. This is the time to chat about the theme, the beautiful layouts and learn about the swap crop if you haven't participated before. We'll brainstorm a theme for next month, too! If you haven't done so, you can check out past swaps in the Swap Crop Gallery!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, February 1st - 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 February 1st, 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!

January Message Board Game: Jumpstart January!

It's time to kick off the new year with fun and focus on scrapbooking! And a few prizes thrown in never hurt, right? Join us on the message board this month for "Jumpstart January!" This is a message board game and challenge to start your year with fun and focus on taking time to scrapbook regularly despite the little speedbumps of life. When the month is over, you'll have completed several layouts and been challenged and treated to some fun along the way.

A member of the Welcoming Committee will post a mini-challenge/task every Monday through Saturday during January. Some tasks will require message board participation, email responses, or gallery posting. Those who complete all tasks and submit or post required participation by 11:59pm MT on January 31st will be entered in a drawing to win one of three $10 Gift Certificates to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Those who complete just the layouts will be entered in a drawing to win one of two $5 Gift Certificates. Those who complete just the speedbumps will be entered in a drawing for one of two $3 Gift Certificates. (Those who complete all tasks will have their name entered in all three drawings!)

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

January Monthly Layout Contest: With the beginning of a new year, many people set aside some time to set goals. It might be an exercise plan or establishing better eating habits. It might be getting your life more organized. Or maybe you set goals for your digital scrapbooking output for the year. Post your layouts in the January Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight MST on January 31st. Be sure to list your layout's product credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. Two layouts will be selected to win 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 prizes@scrapgirls.com and we'll get it out to you right away!

Copyright Scrap Girls, LLC 2004-2012

This newsletter may be freely redistributed by email in its unedited form. We encourage you to share it with others.

Customers or advertisers, you may contact us at:
Scrap Girls
10817 Highland Circle
Highland, Utah 84003
www.scrapgirls.com

Toll-free: (866) 598-3444

P.S. If you ever need any assistance, please email hello@scrapgirls.com or call 866-598-3444 and we'll help you as quickly as possible!