The Digital Scrapbook Place
N e w s l e t t e r

As someone who has never considered herself artistic, digital scrapbooking has caught me completely off guard and opened up a world of possibilities to me. I found DSP almost as soon as I discovered digital scrapbooking and the supportive community here has been wonderful! I've learned about my program, about design, and about myself. DSP has become a real home for me.

To find an artistic side I didn't even know I had a year ago, is an amazing process. So for all of those that don't think you are good enough or talented enough, stop in to the forums and you'll find yourself overwhelmed with help, support, and friendly advice! Sign up for a class, you'll learn more about your program then you could imagine! And then just create! Preserve those memories, the pictures, the stories for generations to come!

Bethy
DSP Moderator
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See more samples and sign up for the club here.

This month's Club Digital has: two Page Kits, an Overlay and Alpha, four Word Arts, a Quick Click, a Font, and a Stamp and Brush set. Don't miss out!

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What's Inspiring the DET?
The DSP Digital Elite Team (DET) is a group of six very talented scrappers. This month we asked them what inspires them and what new things they are looking at. Karen, Debb, and Kris gave us some insight into their creative process!

Karen (Karen B) has discovered the unique challenge of scrapping without photos. She says that often she opens up a kit and starts playing with it before finding the perfect photo. "Some kits speak to me differently. They say they don't need pictures, just my words," she says. She uses her journaling as the elements to guide the eye across the page. And uses words as focal points. She adds, "being a font gatherer helps - I have fonts of many different styles, and I find that mixing fonts up is a great way to keep a page interesting like in my Asthma layout." She even made a photo free Quick Click. Design rules still apply and she's always striving for layouts that flow well and are well-balanced. She uses the elements that come in the kits like in her Meanest Mom layouts. And sometimes there are stories where she doesn't have the time for the photo, so she changes the kit papers to be her photo!

One of Debb's (Debb Cozzi) goals in pursuing the craft of digital scrap-booking is to document her family’s life and history. Of equal importance to her, as a creative person, is that she create layouts with ever increasing levels of artistic merit.

She says, "one of my favorite ways to keep myself inspired and, hopefully, improving in my designs is by studying different styles of layouts. I will look at different styles of layouts and try to determine what gives them their distinctive look. I ask myself things like, 'How does a particular style utilize design principles like space, balance, line, shape, form, color, etc?'" She adds "I also try to determine the distinctive ways different styles will use decorative elements, photos, journaling, and the like. It is my belief that the more we play around with and become well-versed with different styles of layouts the more resources and ideas we have to draw on in designing our layouts."

This past month she took a look at Open Space layouts. (Others call this ‘negative space’ layouts or ‘white space’ layouts.) The more she looked at open space layouts the more she realized that many of the layouts she was seeing could be considered Freestyle. That led her to consider what it was that made freestyle layouts distinctive from other styles of layouts. And that was the beginning of the Freestyle Fandango Challenge. (Here are two of her favorite Freestyle layouts: (If Hearts had Wings and Octopus Garden) Debb says, "we have been having so much fun at the Fandango!" At first many were uncertain as to exactly what this style was. Still others were a little nervous because it stretched them beyond their normal or more traditional styles of scrapbooking. "That led us to adopt the following motto, 'At the Freestyle Fandango we are Fearless, Feckless and Having FUN!!'" Debb adds. If you haven't seen some of the amazing layouts that have been posted for this challenge, take a look!

There has been such a positive response to the Fandango that Suzanne Walker and Debb have decided to team up and make the Fandango a permanent part of DSP. Read more about their new challenge in the Contests and Challenges section of the newsletter!

Kris (thyme_4_me) has been inspired by the freestyle trend. She says "I really enjoy mixing papers and elements to create a new feel to the kits. Paint brushes, tape, grungey elements, school paper and inked frames seem to be a big influence in my style." She adds "it’s a wonderful way to express myself without a cut and paste style. Like an artist who uses a blank canvas and then just splashes bits and pieces here or there and makes it her own work of art." Here are a few examples of her latest freestyle creations: Only Then, Keep It Mine Forever, I Have Dreamed Of You, and Beauty.

Keep an eye on the DET gallery! There are inspirations abound by the talented ladies on the team!
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Read more about her here! Congrats Angie!
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René says she is inspired by almost everything; children's clothing, interior design, restaurant napkins, dinnerware; anything that catches her eye gets her thinking "that will make a great kit!" Currently she is drawn to the "bohemian or hippie look" and she is hoping to create some digital tie-dyed papers. A perfect match for her Build-A-Doodle kits! René says "I am so thrilled to be a part of the DSP Design Team. The DSP Team is a team in the truest sense of the word." She adds "I am amazed every day in how this great bunch of ultra-talented women work together to help and inspire each other on a daily basis. And the fact that the members are living in all parts of the world and can come together to form this incredible online community is truly amazing!" She says she is looking forward to continuing in the DSP tradition by adding more creativity and spirit to this super fun and lively web site. And being a Mac user, she hopes to fill a gap and help with any Mac support that may be needed!

This month one of her kits in the store will be Build-A-Doodle. A fun way to make your own flower doodles. You put them together, choosing your own petal, center, and leaf styles and then fill them up with the paper or color of your choice. What a great way to have a personalized doodle on your layout! There are endless combinations so each flower will be fresh and new and unique to just your layout! Check out our new feature, the Desktop Calendar Plopper created with some of her newest kits including Build-a-Doodle!
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Classes For September
new! DSU241: Jasc Paint Shop Pro: Montage
Master a variety of PSP tools while doing montage mini projects and layouts. You will learn far more about PSP than just doing montage layouts: tools, composition, blending layers, masks, and much, much more. In addition, each week we will offer a digital gift that corresponds with the lesson. Instructors: Emma Powell and Stacey Jewell Stahl. View syllabus.

DSU110: Adobe Photoshop: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
This course shows step-by step how to create three layouts: paper style, graphic montage, and elements collage. In-depth instructions on each tool, filter, and layer style used to create basic layouts, backgrounds, maneuver text, create simple elements, and save for printing and sharing on the web. Instructor Emma Powell.

DSU130: Jasc Paint Shop Pro: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
This course shows step-by step how to create three layouts: paper style, graphic montage, and elements collage. In-depth instructions on each tool, filter, and layer style used to create basic layouts, backgrounds, maneuver text, create simple elements, and save for printing and sharing on the web. Instructor Emma Powell.

DSU160: Adobe Photoshop Elements: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
This course shows step-by step how to create three layouts: paper style, graphic montage, and elements collage. In-depth instructions on each tool, filter, and layer style used to create basic layouts, backgrounds, maneuver text, create simple elements, and save for printing and sharing on the web. Instructor Emma Powell..

DSU170: Scraps of Digital: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking (Formerly HP CSA)
With Scraps of Digital, which includes HP's Creative Scrapbook Assistant, you can create scrapbook pages on your computer in very little time, and the results are sure to wow your friends and family. In this class you will learn how to use this software to create quick and easy scrapbook pages using ready-to-use artwork. Instructors: Kim Liddiard and Lauren Bavin

DSU185: Picasa: Easy Photo Editing and Management (2 week class)
In this class we will cover many of the ways you can use Picasa to organize, manage and improve your photos. We will cover such things as sorting, labeling and cataloging your photo and image collections, along with basic and more advanced photo editing skills enabling you to recover artistic and desirable images often from less than perfect photos. Instructor Lauren Bavin.

DSU190: Layout Design (2 week class)
This class covers all the aspects of creating a visually appealing layout. If you want your layout to WOW, then this is the class to learn how! It covers basic styles of digital scrapbooking and then moves on to methods of achieving eye catching layouts. Topics covered include: focal points, flow, grounding , font use and colour use and theory. This class comes complete with a large kit for creating your homework assignments. Instructors Lauren Bavin and Sharon Topliss.

DSU231: Jasc Paint Shop Pro: Creating Digital Elements for Beginners
Begin creating your own elements in this 4 week class for Paint Shop Pro users. You'll explore the tools and techniques you need to create realistic elements with PSP8 or PSP9, exploring different types of elements each week. Instructor Lori Davis.

DSU295: Creative Journaling and Typography
Whether you love to journal or are intimidated by it, this class will help you improve your story-telling abilities to enhance your layouts for future generations and increase your technical knowledge of typography. We'll focus on different styles of journaling, selecting fonts, alignment styles, creative journaling and adding WOW to your layout using text. Instructor Stacey Jewell Stahl.

DSU311: Adobe Photoshop: Creating Digital Elements for Advanced Users
Continue the journey of element creation in Adobe Photoshop with this class which follows on from DSU 211. In step-by-step lessons we will cover the tools and gain the skills to create visually realistic elements and will create new elements each week. Instructor Lauren Bavin.

DSU350: Photography: Creating a Home Photography Studio
Students will create their own home photography studio and learn the basics of natural light portraiture in this 4-week class. Build a portable photography backdrop stand out of PVC pipe, a backdrop from jersey fleece, and learn how to make your camera and the natural light in your garage (or in a room in your house with a large window) do amazing things! Instructor Suzanne Walker.

DSU361: Adobe Photoshop Elements: Creating Digital Elements for Advanced Users
Create more realistic embellishments in PSE in this 4-week class following DSU 261. Learn more tools to create new realistic page elements each week, and learn to combine tools in unique ways to make your own creations. Instructor Emma Powell.

• Saving Brushes (PSP)
• Layouts Using Blending Overlays (PSP)
• Quick Clicks (PSP) (PSE) (PS) (DIP) (FotoFusion)
• Easy Alphas or Titles (PSP)
• Organizing Your DSP Gallery
• Two Toned Text (PS)
• Border or Mats (PSE) (DIP)
• Folded Ribbons (PSPX) (PSP)
• Changing Background Colors (PSP)
• Coloring Doodles (PS)
• Downloading and Installing Fonts

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Friday Night Improv!
Join Jamie and Samara every other Friday for a night of improv kit building! Every chat will feature three fabulous backgrounds created by either Jamie or Samara and you get to shout out your suggestions for elements, themes and colors to build a kit! Check out the Friday Night Improv thread for dates, times and more information!

Freestyle Fandango
A new Designer Exclusive; the Freestyle Fandango Challenge! Suzanne and Debb will be continuing the freestyle movement and will be running a weekly challenge and chat on Wednesdays at 10pm (EST). Each week they will issue a new challenge. Each will focus on a different aspect of freestyle layouts. Suzanne has been busy designing all sorts of fun new products and each week there will be some cool goodies that Suzanne will share as posting bonuses! Then every week there will be a chat in the Fandango chat room. So, if you are looking for a place to learn, stretch your design horizons and have lots of fun along the way Suzanne and Debb extend a warm invitation for you to join them in the Fandango! Check out their new forum for more details and see layouts in the Fandango gallery!

The Speakeasy
Lisa Carter and Suzanne Walker will be co-hosting a new ongoing Designer Exclusive! They will be combining Lisa's Border Template sets with Suzanne's Curved Wordart at the Speakeasy! Check out the forum as this new challenges launches including details on a biweekly chat!

Z's Bogo Bonus!
Elizabeth Weaver's monthly challenge: Buy One kit, Get One FREE! This month she is featuring her new Art Class Junior kit. Buy it, use it, and she'll send you an add-on for free!! Check out her Designer Exclusive forum for more details!
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Items Of The Week (IOTW)
Each week a new item goes on sale for only 99 cents. Check out the ITOW challenge starting each Sunday to find out the new kit. Then buy the kit, use it to make a layout, post it to the ITOW gallery and the designer will have different prizes for you! It could be a posting bonuses, chances at a free fonting, you never know! So check it out this week!

For the first week of August, the IOTW is Inspiration by Valeri Brumfield. Make sure you check it out today!
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Helping you scrap those make believe moments, this fabulous new CD, Scraps of Fun Make Believe, is packed with fun and imaginative kits! Included are: Action Hero, Ballerina, Junior Fireman, Knights of Old, Little Mommy, Mommy's Make up, Pet Dinosaur, Pretty Little Princess, Race Cars, Serve and Protect, Tea Party, and When I Grow Up. The possibilities, like their imagination, are endless!

Below are a few of the kit previews from this set. It's available on a CD or as a download.
     

And the perfect companion to the Make Believe CD?
How about a specially created Make Believe Word Art!
(CD or download)

A new addition to the DSP line of products is your own family web site, DigitalScrapbookFamily.com. It's an easy to use web site for the digital scrapbooker. Powered by The Family Post, this is so much more than a blog and even easier to use! Upload photos, edit text, and that's it! A professional web site just for you.

Now you can quickly and easily share your scrapbook pages, photos, videos, news, calendar, and more! Simply upload photos, add text, and your family web site is updated. It's as easy as updating a blog, but much more versatile and professional. Powered by The Family Post, Digital Scrapbook Family web sites are perfect for scrapbookers and bloggers. (Click here to check out a sample site.)

The web sites feature an easy-to-use interface that enables even the novice computer user to easily change text, upload photos, and create new pages. The Family Post has developed the most sophisticated, elegant, and effective family internet communication product available today. Store and share your most precious memories with elegance, style, and a lot of fun!

Choose from many great designs and three levels of service to make your web site just right for your family. Purchase an annual subscription and get a month free or purchase a monthly subscription and begin your two-week free trial now!
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A newsletter special! A specially designed plopper for your computer desktop. This one features two kits, Chocolate Cherries and Build-A-Doodle, both by our featured designer, Ren

Download the PNG file of your choice here: 1024x768 hires version and 800x600 regular version. And just like any of our ploppers, put your photo on a layer underneath the desktop plopper. Angle and size it as you please, add journaling, and save it as a jpg. Then update your desktop wallpaper background by browsing to your new image!

Voilà! A favorite photo paired with a a great kit and this month's calendar to help keep you up-to-date all month! Look for a new one each month in our newsletter!!
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