Review by Kristin Grimm

I love the versatility of alphas. The traditional way, and the way I tend to use them, is to use them as a title on the page either up, down, across, backwards or diagonal. You can use one for just the first letter of the title, or use them for the whole title. You can also mix and match different alphas for cute, clever, and supremely fun titles. They can also be used to make lists, work as stickers to hold pictures onto papers, and become a jumbled background of cute letters.

Alphas may also be altered to reflect the color you need. On my layout I wanted a different color letter, so I selected the inside of the letter with the Magic Wand (or Selector Tool) in Photoshop, chose the color I wanted to match my other letters, and used the Paint Bucket to put my new color in.

Altering alphas is even easier since Scrap Girls came out with their incredible ScrapSimple Alpha Templates. You can always find a match for every layout.

To make my layout, I first opened a new document and the photo I wanted to work with. Next, I cropped the photo to just reflect that cute little smile. I then opened the alphas, resized, and placed them on the page.

I then altered the "r" to match the blue in the "e" alpha. Next, I used the Text Tool to add "Smile." In addition, I added the cute dot box embellishment from the Letterpress Collection behind the word "Smile." I then added my text below the photo. Behind the photo, I added the GraphX Brush and then another one from the same collection to the side of "Smile." I then added the Decorative Swirl brush on its own layer and then rotated it to fit below my photo.

I then opened the Blue Jean Baby Yellow Paper and rotated it and arranged it on the bottom of my paper. Next, I duplicated the Yellow Paper and then placed it on the top of my page. After that, I added the ScrapSimple Embellishment Template: Measuring Tape, rotated it and adjusted the Opacity. Finally, I added my shadows and white photo border to finish it off.

Layout by Kristin Grimm

	Note: Commercial license versions of GraphX Brush Set, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Measure Up and Decorative Swirls Brush Set are also available.

Kristin Grimm lives in Alaska and is a wife to a loving husband and a mom to two beautiful children. She currently works full-time as a preschool teacher. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children and working on designing, quilting and writing.

Digital scrapbooking is...

• Fast.
• Creative.
• Fun.
• And it saves you money.*

Let Scrap Girls show you how surprisingly simple it can be to become a great digital scrapbooker.

* Digital supplies are less expensive to purchase and can be used over and over and over again...

NEW! Discover your hidden scrapbooking talent today! MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop (for versions 6, 7, CS, CS2, CS3) will have you doing the same tricks and knowing the same tips as the professionals! With MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop, you will be creating your own digital elements and enjoying advanced techniques on your digital scrapbooking layouts in no time!

Have a blast doing the more advanced tricks that you see other people and professional digital scrapbookers doing. Learn how with MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0).

Learn how easy it is to create digital scrapbooking layouts in PSE 6.0 with these easy-to-understand tutorial movies in Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 6.0.

PSE 5.0 version available here.

PSE 4.0 version available here.

PSE 3.0 (works for 2.0) version available here.

Find out how easy it is to use Photoshop to create digital scrapbooking layouts and edit your photos! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop. (Versions 6, 7, CS, CS2 and CS3).

Learn how easy it is to create digital scrapbooking layouts with these easy-to-understand tutorial movies for Paint Shop Pro X. (Can be used for PSP XI, too!)

PSP 9 version here.

This great eBook will take digital scrapbookers photos to a new layer. Diane Miller's photographs are amazing and her Photography Simplified eBook shows you how you can get fabulous shots, too!

If you're at all curious about using filters and plug-ins in digital scrapbooking , then The Beginners Guide to Filters and Plug-ins for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements (Windows) is what you need!

Paint Shop Pro version available here.

This ebook was created from the popular online class Creative Brushwork. It is perfect for the scrapbooker who want to go above and beyond basic brushing techniques taught in Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements. Make your layouts shine with the polish that advanced brushwork can bring!

Photoshop version available here.

If you want to take some beginner steps towards improving the type on your layouts, and thereby improving the overall look of your layouts, then this eBook is perfect for you. It's written in a very simple style, focusing on one digitally scrapbooked layout while walking you through ten tips that take type from mundane and awkward to eye-catching and cohesive.

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: How to Make a Birthday Scrapbook Page

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!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: How to Combine ScrapSimple Paper & Photo Templates also available!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: How to use ScrapSimple Tools: Custom Shapes & Patterns also available!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: The Beauty of Blending Modes: Using them with ScrapSimple Products also available!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: How to Emboss & Texturize with ScrapSimple Templates also available!

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

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: How to Combine ScrapSimple Paper & Photo Templates also available!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: The Beauty of Blending Modes: Using them with ScrapSimple Products also available!