The Groove
Digital Scrapbooking Inspiration - September, 2006
In the Groove
This month, The Groove celebrates “Back to School”. We’d like to give the first official “A+” to Scrapbook MAX! for the exciting new features included in the latest software upgrade (version 1.0.4.1)! Features include: the option to order online photo finishing directly through Scrapbook MAX (COOL!), the ability to import pages from other scrapbooks into your current scrapbook (AWESOME!), the ability to email your scrapbooks directly through Gmail (FAB!), and more (WOO-HOO!)!
Here’s a tip: To make sure you are working with the latest version of Scrapbook MAX!, go to Help > Check for Update in the SBM menu bar.
Musings on "Back To School"
September is an ending and a beginning. For me, it always feels like the true New Year, full of promise and potential.
There is always a change in the air on the first day of school. A sort of chill – not unpleasant – that signals the end of summer. Like the school bell, it calls us back. Back to freshly sharpened pencils and brand new stacks of paper and desks impeccably organized. Back to chalk boards with the new teacher’s name written on it in large, even letters. Back to friends and recess and lunch boxes and the playground and improvised soccer tournaments and skipping rope.
September calls parents back to routine, back to a quieter household, back to lingering a little longer over the morning cup of coffee. Back to homework at the kitchen table, back to reading out loud, back to priceless artwork on the fridge, back to piano lessons, back to basketball try-outs.
Back to wondering how it is that the fifth grade was twenty years ago – or even more – when it could just as easily have been yesterday.
Digital Scrapbooking Tips
Groovy Tip #1: Choose Page> Import to insert a previously made page into your current scrapbook (a great new feature in SBM!).
Groovy Tip#2: To change your page size, go to Page > Settings. Then, click on the Size tab and make your selection.
Meet Wendy G., a talented digital scrapper and a member of the friendly Scrapbook MAX! “forum family”!
Q- Wendy, if we asked your friends to describe you, what would they say?
A – Hmm…Tough question! I try not to think about what people think of me. I guess maybe they’d say creative, giving, and talented?
Q- How did you get involved with digital scrapbooking?
A - I fell into digital scrapbooking naturally. I was dabbling in website design and digital graphics creation before I even knew what scrapbooking was. I then found that scrapbooking was a natural extension of the type of graphics I was already creating.
Q -Who are the most special people in your life. Why?
A- My family is the most important thing in my life, specifically my husband, son and two daughters. I would be lost without any of them. My husband is my biggest fan and is very supportive of what I do.
Q- Where do you find inspiration for your layouts?
A - My inspiration comes from many sources. Life in general inspires me, especially when dealing with crisis – the emotions bring out the best in my work.
Q- Do you have a “signature” color scheme or type of embellishment that you love to use?
A- I am a doodler. I love using hand drawn accents and pen stitching on traditional scrap layouts as well as on digital layouts. I also love to use the color red for the “wow” factor.
Q- What’s your next scrapbook project?
A- I am currently developing templates and graphics for use with Scrapbook MAX!.
Q- If you could be a celebrity for one day, who would you be and why?
A- I honestly don’t think I’d like to be anyone other than myself. I love who and what I am at this point in my life and that suits me just fine!
A – Hmm…Tough question! I try not to think about what people think of me. I guess maybe they’d say creative, giving, and talented?
Q- How did you get involved with digital scrapbooking?
A - I fell into digital scrapbooking naturally. I was dabbling in website design and digital graphics creation before I even knew what scrapbooking was. I then found that scrapbooking was a natural extension of the type of graphics I was already creating.
Q -Who are the most special people in your life. Why?
A- My family is the most important thing in my life, specifically my husband, son and two daughters. I would be lost without any of them. My husband is my biggest fan and is very supportive of what I do.
Q- Where do you find inspiration for your layouts?
A - My inspiration comes from many sources. Life in general inspires me, especially when dealing with crisis – the emotions bring out the best in my work.
Q- Do you have a “signature” color scheme or type of embellishment that you love to use?
A- I am a doodler. I love using hand drawn accents and pen stitching on traditional scrap layouts as well as on digital layouts. I also love to use the color red for the “wow” factor.
Q- What’s your next scrapbook project?
A- I am currently developing templates and graphics for use with Scrapbook MAX!.
Q- If you could be a celebrity for one day, who would you be and why?
A- I honestly don’t think I’d like to be anyone other than myself. I love who and what I am at this point in my life and that suits me just fine!
Some of Wendy's favorite layouts!
Click on "Solitude", "Serene", and "Play Ball" to view larger images.
Click on "Solitude", "Serene", and "Play Ball" to view larger images.
Creative Genius
Digital scrappers are famous for "thinking outside the page". Every month, we feature examples of imaginative uses of Scrapbook MAX!. Read on and get inspired!
Free Your Fridge!
Kids love to display their artwork and school projects on the fridge, but who has the space for it all? The Scrapbook Solution: take digital photos of each masterpiece, and make a “School Projects” digital scrapbook that will last forever - complete with titles, dates, and other details. And unlike fridge art, you can send the artwork scrapbook to family and friends!
Despite the grunts and groans, most of us secretly loved heading back to school. This month, we want to see your best school-related page layout. First day of kindergarten, band concerts, science fairs, track and field days, etc. - like your English teacher told you, be creative! The winning layout will be published in the next issue of The Groove and the winner will receive a fabulous 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 September 21, 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.
"On Vacation" Contest Winner
Click here to view larger image
Congratulations to our “On Vacation” contest winner: Marion W. from Janesville, Wisconsin, USA! What a striking black and white collage! We sure love Marion’s use of strong lines and sense of graphic proportion. Way to go, Marion - and thanks to ALL contest participants for your fabulous entries!
Inspirations
Black and White. Add a touch of elegance to your scrapbooks by turning color photos black and white. To do so, right-click on your photo, then choose Effects > Grayscale. Tip: Use bold colors with your black and white photos for a real “pop”!
Click on "Wedding Romance", "Pals" and "Joy" to view larger images.
Opposites Attract. Use “mirror images” of a great photo! One easy way to do it: Right-click on your photo and choose Flip Horizontal. Use it when a “flipped” image better suits your layout, or for artistic expression! (Thanks to Julie L. from Mead, WA for her inspirational layout below featuring an adorable face..."times 8"!)
The Groove Wants You!
Next Month in The Groove:
The Groove celebrates Halloween! Plus - look for September’s “Back to School” contest winner!
