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Layout by Kathleen Szatmary
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 Negative Space are also available. |
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Layout by Joyce Schardt
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Junk in the Trunk are also available. |
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Layout by Syndee Nuckles
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Cardstock 2, Brush Set: Collage Shapes, Brush Set: Artful and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Butterfly Shadows 6301 Mini are also available. |
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Printable Art Sample by Sara Beth Peterson
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If you have praise, comments, or questions for any of our Product Designers or Layout Artists, 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 Scrap Girls team layouts, visit the Scrap Girls Design Team section and the Scrap Girls Layout Artist Team section of the Layout Gallery.
Journaling Tips
Thursday, February 9, 2012
IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
- What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?
- Scrap Girls, Etc.
- ScrapSimple Club
- Tips From The Pros: Tips for Readable Journaling
- Designer Freebie
- What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
- Ongoing Opportunities for YOU
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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 hello@scrapgirls.com 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 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! If you would like to be spotlighted and win a $25 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique, send the following items to hello@scrapgirls.com:
Suggest a Challenge, Win a Prize! Have a great idea for a Gallery layout challenge? Submit it to challenges@scrapgirls.com. 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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Create a Card Based on an Existing Layout
Do you ever wish you could stretch your layout further? After spending time and energy on your digital scrapbooking layout and creating something you are especially proud of, you deserve to show it off! It's great to share these types of layouts in online galleries and email them to friends, but what if you could do even more?
Today, I am going to show you how to do just that by creating a greeting card using our existing layouts!
By using the original layered PSD layout, we can create a card in minutes instead of hours!
Let's begin by opening up a layout.
Next, create a new blank document sized 5.5x8.5 inches; this will become our card. Hit Ctrl+R to show rulers, and with your cursor, drag down from the top ruler to grab a guide and set it at 4.25 inches. This represents the fold line of our card; we want to make sure to keep our design below that guide line.
Now, drag the background paper from your layout to this newly created document. You can resize the paper if you would like to make it a tighter fit.
Next, I grabbed the scalloped paper and dragged it over on top of the brown background and played around with it until I was happy with the placement. Then I began dragging some of the elements from my layout to my card and arranged them until I was happy with the placement. I added a greeting using a font and alpha letters from the collection I used to create the original layout.
Now the card is ready to print, cut, and fold! How easy was that?!
For the next card, I went for a completely different look. Again, I opened up my original layout and a new blank 5.5x8.5-inch document. I hit Ctrl+R to open up my rulers and set a guide line at 4.25 inches.
Next, I grabbed my background paper from the layout and placed it on my new blank document. Then I grabbed the bracket matte, the word art, and butterflies, and I arranged them on my card. Remember to build the front of your card below the guide line.
Another card ready to print, cut, and mail!
This is such a great way to make beautiful, one-of-a-kind cards easily - and to make your layouts stretch further! I would love to see what you come up with!
Happy card making!
Products used to make the layouts and cards shown above... |
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Scallops 6301, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Photo Edges 6301, and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Butterfly Shadows 6301 Mini are also available. |
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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!
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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:
January's ScrapSimple Club has been created for you by
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 Layout by Amy Flanagan 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 |
Tips for Readable Journaling
Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS4 with Microsoft Windows Vista
Did you make any scrapbooking resolutions for the New Year? One of my goals for 2012 is to create more layouts with journaling. I tend to focus on the creative aspect of digital scrapbooking, but even those of us who focus on memory-keeping can find integrating journaling into the design process difficult. I used to feel that if I wanted to have legible journaling on my pages, I had to sacrifice "pretty" layout design. Over time, I've discovered a few tips that can help ensure your journaling harmonizes with your overall layout design without sacrificing readability.
Tip #1: Bigger isn't always better.
I usually keep my font size within the 10-18 point range. If I'm using a sans serif font (such as Arial) or a handwriting font, I use slightly larger point sizes. However, if you want to include lengthy blocks of text, remember that serif fonts, such as the classic Times New Roman, will make your words easier to read. Furthermore, serif fonts are more legible at smaller sizes so you can add more lines of text to your layout. When I use a serif font, I tend to use a smaller point. I've even gone as low as 8 point before! If you're thinking 10 point is way too small, keep in mind that on screen, the image on your working canvas is zoomed out. At 100% (print size), 10 point is easy to read.
Tip #2: Choose background papers wisely.
Journaling directly on your background paper is another alternative to using journaling mats. It is best to use solid papers or patterned papers with very subtle, small scale patterns as a canvas for your writing. Notebook, ledger, and graph papers are some of my favorite backgrounds to use as we naturally write on those types of paper in daily life. Avoid journaling on papers with busy patterns because your text will be virtually unreadable. In a battle between text and pattern, more often than not, your text will lose the fight.
Tip #3: Divide and conquer!
I used to draw a large text box on my layout and paste long paragraphs of journaling on the page. I'd then proudly show my layout with "meaningful journaling" to family members, only to watch their eyes glaze over the huge block of text. They were simply overwhelmed—there's the stunning photo, the pretty papers and embellishments, all on top of a lengthy, unformatted essay. So what should be done?
I turned to textbooks for inspiration. Textbooks are formatted to make it easier for the reader to digest great amounts of information. Don't be afraid to use columns to separate large blocks of type into smaller sections. Plus, there's an added bonus to the "divide and conquer" approach: It will be easier to integrate journaling into your overall layout design. It is easier to find room on your layout for several smaller blocks of text rather than one large text block.
Check out these tips in action on my layout. I used a serif font at 14 point for maximum readability. I have placed my journaling against a mostly solid background to avoid competition between my text and a patterned paper. Lastly, I've arranged my text into several columns to make the journaling easier to digest.
Now it's your turn! I hope these tips make it easier to add journaling to your layouts. Be sure to share your layouts in the Scrap Girls Gallery - I'd love to see them!
Layout by Ashleigh Bronner
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Junk in the Trunk, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Paper Tears 5001, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Folded Paper and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Stitching Studio are also available. |
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Article written by Ashleigh Bronner
Learn to make digital scrapbooking layouts and more! – Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed Ready to learn advanced techniques? – MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed |
Layout by Jo Corne
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Designer Freebie by Jo Corne coordinates with her Super 7 Spread: Love Me Do
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Pop Up are also available. |
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Today's freebie designed by Jo Corne
* 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.
Journaling Chat
Monday, February 13th - 6:00PM MST
Join Carla (CRS) on Monday, February 13th at 6pm MT in the chat room for the Journaling Chat! This month, we'll use Amanda Fraijo-Tobin's ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Journaling Labels 6401 and her Brush Set: Journaling Labels. Carla will have a journaling challenge for you as well! Hope to see you there!
New Member Chat
Tuesday, February 14th - 6:00PM MST
Join Debbie (B&K Mom) for the New Member Chat at February 14th at 6pm 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.
East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, February 15th - 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 15th, we will be doing a ScrapSimple challenge! Create a layout using at least one ScrapSimple product. If you haven't used them before, we'll have some great ideas for you in the chat. 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!
Hybrid Craft Chat
Wednesday, February 15th - 6:00PM MST
Join Carla (CRS) in the chat room at 6pm MT for this month's Hybrid Craft Chat. We will be talking about Angela Blanchard's ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Exploding Box! I'll have some tips for you and show you how easy it is to use your digital goodies along with what is already in your craft room!
February's Message Board Game: Posting Contest!
February is Posting Contest time on the Scrap Girls Forums! You can win a Scrap Girls Gift Certificate by simply being chatty in the Scrap Girls Forums and Gallery. This contest will run from February 1st when we post the thread until 11:59pm MT on February 29th.
To enter the Scrap Girls Forum Posting Contest, 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 number which is calculated differently.) During the month, post your fingers off! At Midnight on February 29th, 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 or more posts will automatically win a $5 gift certificate and will be entered in a drawing for a $20 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate!
For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls Forum.
February Monthly Layout Contest: This February we have a Leap Year Day. For this month's contest, we want you to scrap about what makes you "Leap for Joy." Let us know in your journaling why you leap for joy. Post your layouts in the February Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight MST on February 29th. 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!