The Groove
Digital Scrapbooking Inspiration - July 2006
Welcome to the first ever edition of The Groove - an inspiring newsletter for digital scrapbookers! Each month, you’ll find “musings” on a theme to get your creative juices flowing, bright ideas for scrapping, design tips and tricks, contests, freebies and more! You’ll meet other digi scrappers who tell us a bit about themselves in our Scrapper Profile section – in fact, why shouldn’t that scrapper be you! (See details below under “Scrapper Profile”). Everyone knows that the best part of digital scrapping is sharing. So read on, and get in The Groove!
Musings on a Summer Day
When I think of summer, I immediately remember the last day of school. It’s been quite a few years since my school days. But the summer still evokes thoughts of fidgeting in my seat, trying to focus on the probably not-all-that-important last lesson of the year. The hand on the clock creeps toward the end of the school day. It’s hopeless.
My mind is far from fractions and maps and report cards. I’m already at the family cottage where my brother and I are taking our first leaps of faith into the ice-cube cold lake. I’m at the beach carrying pail after pail of water to fill the moat around the enormous sand castle I’ve just built. I’m sitting under the blazing sun on the warm green grass of our front lawn licking a grape popsicle.
A silly grin spreads over my face - even now - as I contemplate the endless march of weeks upon weeks of freedom filled with play dates and bike rides and water fights and ice cream and road trips and sunsets and campfires. School’s out – summer’s on!
Digital Scrapbooking Tips
GROOVY TIP#1 : A scrapbook on a CD-ROM makes a great gift!
GROOVY TIP #2: …keep family and friends in touch by emailing your digital scrapbooks.
Scrapper Profile
Get to know Marnie, who we feature in this month’s "Scrapper Profile"! As well as being a friendly and helpful "regular" on the Scrapbook MAX! forums, Marnie is part of the design team that put together the stellar templates included with Scrapbook MAX!.
Heeeeeeeeere's Marnie!
Karin - Let's start short and sweet! You have one word to describe yourself. Go for it!
Marnie- Driven.
K- Your LOs display a range of styles and moods. Where do you find your inspirations?
M- I find inspiration everywhere! It’s amazing how the color scheme on a notepad or an architectural pattern can trigger a layout idea. When I begin to get “scrappers block”, I look for consistent patterns, placements, or colors in my recent layouts. Then, I start a new layout by purposely doing the opposite of my usual. This often sparks a new approach! And of course, my fellow Scrapbook MAX! forum members are a great inspiration.
K- The templates you helped design for Scrapbook MAX! are awesome! Tell us about the three pages you are most proud of.
M- Thanks!
Page 1 of Spring Garden – This one isn’t cluttered and seems to have the right balance. I like the colors and layering. This entire package is feminine, yet slightly rustic.
Page 2 of Baby Girl – This background separated the page so nicely! I can just imagine a picture of mom with baby and another of dad with baby.
Page 3 of Classic Romance – I love the vertical hanging triple-frame offered in this kit! This layout offers so many possibilities! For example, you could crop the larger photo in three different ways.
K- Tell us about your favorite feature of Scrapbook MAX! in one sentence.
M- Hmm, that’s tough – there are so many! I suppose my favorite feature is the custom shape option for all paper scraps and photos- I love the torn edge look for photos.
K-Any helpful digital scrapbooking tips and tricks that you can share?
M- I like combining the grayscale and opacity effects on a picture in order to create an interesting background.
K- One last question- favorite pig out snack?
M- Without a doubt, chips and dip!
Interested in being one of The Groove’s profiled scrappers? Write to us at newsletter@scrapbookmax.com for details.
Creative Genius
Digi scrappers are famous for "thinking outside the page". Every month, we feature examples of imaginative uses of digital scrapbooking. Read on and get inspired!
"I use Scrapbook MAX! to make collage pages. I fill the entire page with overlapping photos and make heavy use of different photo shapes for interest and texture. A collage makes a great keepsake for school events, fun trips, sports tournaments, you name it!"
- submitted by Nancy H., Winnipeg, Manitoba
(Click here to see larger image.)
Contest: "Summer Fun"
Road trips, sand castles, BBQs, ice cream ...This month’s contest is about all things summer! We’re looking for the best summer-themed page layout out there. The sky’s the limit for designs– just make sure your page clearly has something to do with summer. The winning layout will be published in the next issue of The Groove and the winner will receive an official Scrapbook MAX! mousepad!
To enter, publish your layout as a JPEG image using the ‘High Quality’ and ‘Medium size’ options, and upload it to the contest page in the Scrapbook MAX! gallery. All entries will be available for viewing. Contest closes July 22, 2006, Midnight (CST). Good luck! **Note: You must be a registered member of the Scrapbook MAX! forums to enter this contest. To register for free, click here.
“Groove”-y Design
Karin is part of the SBM design team. Her favorite layouts are “groovy” ones (like her top!). We’ll be posting our contest winners’ layouts here in the coming months- but for now, let Karin’s groovy dog design get you “in The Groove”!
Inspirations
Tie it with a bow! Dress up your page with ribbon. Place a strip of ribbon or skinny paper scrap across your page, then add a flower, bow, button, brad, or other embellishment. You can even cross two ribbons to create a "wrapped present" feel. “Secure” with an embellishment. Fancy, shmantzy!
Click these links to see larger "Valentine's Day" and "Baby Blue" images.
Feature a great face! We all have those great candid shots that deserve special attention in our albums. Baby's cutest pout, hubby's gorgeous smile, Johnny's clown face. Give these shots special attention by cropping the photo to feature only the face. Then choose a circular photoshape to set off that great mug!
Click these links to see larger "Hey There!" and "ABC" images.
The Groove Wants YOU!
Have a Lois Lane complex? Put it to use by contributing to The Groove! We’re always looking for fresh ideas to make The Groove fun and exciting – just like our readers! Tips, musings, inspirations, ingenious scrapbook ideas - if you’ve got ‘em, we’d love to read ‘em! Email The Groove your bright ideas today! Contact us at newsletter@scrapbookmax.com
Next month:
The Groove celebrates travel and vacation. Plus - look for July’s “Summer Fun” contest winner!
