|
In this issue
Letter from Team Digital -Lynnette Siler
December is the time you need to be organized! Well, actually late November is a good time to start to get organized, if you aren’t an organized by nature kinda person!. 
Why is this my topic you might ask... well, the PRIMARY thing that brought it to my attention was that I neglected to notify anyone that we needed to do a team digital letter for the newsletter. My second clue was when I realized the newsletter had to be out last night and I wasn’t even close to finished! (What do you mean there aren’t 31 days in November!!)
Seriously, though, holidays are a stressful time of our lives. Think about everything that needs to get done for Christmas. Cooking, cleaning, cards, presents, decorations, traditions, parties... It can seriously wear a person down.
So - I have a few words of wisdom to help you through.
- Be as organized as you can be, make lists and plans
- If you don’t like shopping, get it all over in one fell swoop.
- Don’t procrastinate, loads of energy goes into worrying about the things you are procrastinating about.
- Don’t worry if it doesn’t get done. Probably you are the only one who’ll care or even notice ... and if not, well, tell them to do it.
- People won’t miss your cards if you don’t get them out just this once.
- Holidays are for fun, not for stressing. If it all gets too much for you, soak in a bubble glass with a nice glass of wine and de-stress. ( we elected to leave the typo in this sentence after neaker found it! It was more entertaining that way!)
- And remember, above all, that this is a time for friends and family, not a time for things and events. Be kind to those you love and lessen up on the pressure.
So - from here in my bubble bath, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, I wish you a blessed holiday season from all of us here at DSP.
Lynnette Siler
Newsletter Editor, Forum Mod
(back to the top)
Site News and Features
Countdown to Christmas!
New to DSP?
New Member Information:
Are you new to digital scrapbooking or new to DSP? Join Digital Elite Team (DET) members Sands and Mars for a New Member Chat. The chat is every other Friday at 10 pm EST (4th, 18th December) - You'll find all the information here.
Here is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions about DSP and digital scrapbooking. Whether it’s a question about navigating the site or how to get started, someone will be on hand to give you the answers.
Posting Your First Layout:
Are you thinking about posting your first layout? There's a special first layout challenge each months for you. Post your first layout to DSP this month and you may be a random winner for a free page kit!! You'll find all the information here.
What’s Going On
If you need to know what is going on, you need the What's happening at DSP thread or the Calendar.
Welcome to DSP! We know you will love it!
(back to the top)
Upcoming 2009 DSP Crops and Events
Don’t forget, if you are planning a get together to put it in the Gathering and Support forum. There’s nothing like meeting DSPers in real life to learn new things, take great pictures and have a good laugh! Check out these upcoming gatherings!
December 4,5,6 San Antonio, Texas, It sounds as though plans are in great shape. The lights and the river will make a great combination for photos- but I’m not so sure about the helmet hair!
December 5th, Southern California crop. The crowd is ready and raring to go. It’s not too late to sign up!
Please check n the Gathering and Support forum if you are interested in any crops that may be happening in your area.
(back to the top)
Member Spotlight: Rene a.k.a. ReneT
 The December Member Spotlight is the incredibly talented ReneT.
Rene says she loves paper-style, graphic, fantasy and grungy layouts and really challenges herself to “think outside the box” when she scraps. “I was originally a paper scrapper whose goal was to get events on a page. Now although I still scrap events, I love layouts where I can tell a story or show an emotion,” she says.
Rene finds her inspiration in her family, her travels and stories of her heritage as told by her mother and other members of her family. She describes herself as a Christian, a dedicated wife and mom, and a person who loves adventure, laughing, and fun.
She says “some of my biggest joys and challenges in life have come from being a mom. I am extremely blessed to be married to the best husband in the world who also happens to be my best friend.”
Congratulations Rene and thank you for sharing your talent with us as the December DSP Member Spotlight. Be sure to check out ’Renes Gallery, read more about her on the Spotlight Page and then take part in the Scraplift the Spotlight Challenge.
(back to the top)
Featured Designer - Heidi Kuester
How exciting!!! Everyone's favorite season will soon be upon us. The giving, the decorations and of course, let's not forget all the TREATS! Everyone LOVES Christmas for their own special reasons. But I'm sure we all have Family right up there on the top of our list!
I love hearing about special family traditions. One particular tradition we started  was getting our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend. My husband, Mark, and I started this a couple years before we were married. We always go to the same place. It's a family owned place with a big log cabin all decked out for Christmas. They take you on a horse drawn wagon ride to pick out your PERFECT tree & you cut it down yourself. Then you go inside & warm up by the fire with candy canes & hot apple cider. Every year, rain or shine, it HAS to be that weekend!! Now... we have changed our tradition just a tad to accommodate our growing family. About 5 years back we decide to get an artificial, or FAKE as some might say, tree. But we still go out to Lowes Creek Tree Farm for our horse-drawn wagon ride, candy canes & hot cider. My husband always jokes that he wants to still cut down a tree and leave it there (they sell pre-cuts too). And since having the kids, we now hit the mall afterwards to visit Santa. Now this is NOT just any old Santa - He's the REAL DEAL!! This Santa has been at the mall for at least the last 10 years (my oldest is 10). His beard is real and so is his smile! No matter how long the line is... we wait. He IS the only Santa that my kids have ever gone to & ever will! Check out my gallery & you too will see and...BELIEVE!!
Now with the hustle and bustle of finding that perfect gift and traveling here and there, we have to stop & remember what's important in our lives. And to me it's family, health & happiness. Yeah, sure I wouldn't mind winning the lottery & shedding several pounds. But right now I am pretty darn happy 'where I am and with what I have. I have a supportive and loving husband (who I sometimes refer to as my 'computer techy'). Without him I would be LOST in the computer tech world. He fixes all my lock ups & crashes. Of course, let's not forget about our healthy & beautiful 3 kids... their daily smiles are a constant reminder of why we were put on this earth. And if all that isn't enough to keep a person happy then I must mention that I have the best job in the world designing here at DSP. This has been a dream of mine for several years that has FINALLY come true. And it's better than I thought! Why? Because I have met so many wonderful people that I can truly call friends & family!
And with that said, I would like to wish everyone here at DSP a Safe & Happy Holiday. Enjoy this time with your family & friends whether near or far.
Oh... And of course, I can't WAIT to see all your Holiday Scrapped Photos!!!
Heidi
Senior Designer
Heidi's Links:
Click here for her Team Digital Bio
Click Here for her Personal Gallery
Click Here for her Forum
Click here for her Designer Gallery
Click here for all her stuff in the store.
Heidi has a Chat every Monday night from 9 - 10 PM Eastern. She gives away a freebie (usaully BackPack, or Plopper). And we play a game called 'Reality Bytes' to win a Free Page Kit. It's a fun and random trivia game about yourself. In addition, she runs an ongoing Challenge every 2 weeks (Friday to Friday) called 'Make It Happen'.
Earn prizes and have fun with the Featured Designer Challenge! where you can earn these great items scrapping with Heidi’s kits
 
(Be sure to check the bottom of the newsletter for a special freebie from Heidi to our newsletter readers!)
(back to the top)
Some Useful Links:
 blogger  facebook  flickr  myspace  twitter
New Products Club Digital Events Freebies Tutorials Mentoring Terms of Use Contact Us
(back to the top)
Store News
Missed Em Monday Sales
Missed Em Mondays
Enjoy 20%-40% off Select Products
Missed 'Em First time around?
Here's your chance to grab some old but still great DSP products from past years by at great discount prices.
Grab products released in the past.
Discount varies according to the release date of the product.
Each month there will be a Missed 'Em Monday Sale where you can delve into history and grab some great bargains.
Beyond the Layout
Beyond the layout and Christmas Gifts 20% off through the end of December
Club Digital
Are you a member of the club?
December 2009 Club Digital
 Enjoy December's issue of Club Digital. This months club products have a soft and elegant color scheme, with each individual product keeping their own styles and themes. This allows more mix and match of what already is a great value product.
With one kit of an arty graphic style and one elegant nature-themed kit there is sure to be something to take your fancy. Enjoy the elegant border overlays, versatile alpha and useful date stamps.
Also included is a set of wordart perfect for use in your Christmas Greeting Cards . Dont forget the versatile quick click and as always there is included an exclusive font.
Club Digital now comes in a choice of resolutions - Choose 200ppi or the new 300ppi version when you download.
This months content includes
- Listen to the Earth Page Kit
- Natural Bliss Page Kit
- Winters Night Overlays
- Crinkled Vellum Alphabet
- Dated and Grunged Stamps
- Shaped Christmas Word Art
- DSP Font - DSP Tiffany
- Stack it Quick Click
Club Digital is the hottest club in town! Get your monthly fix of the best digital scrapbook products for an incredible price! Something to suit every style and level of digital scrapper!
Club Digital includes two page kits, one plopper or overlay, a quick click template, an alphabet, some wordart, a font, and png stamps! And there's more! We now include an exclusive store saving coupon just for Club Digital customers. Not only are you saving by being a member, but you receive a coupon that increases your value savings! On top of that, you can can enter an Club Digital exclusive challenge just for members (with great prizes)!
Over $27 in value for the incredible price of only
$5.99/month or even less with a longer subscription! Club Digital is just $17.97 for three months ($5.99/month), $33.00 for six months ($5.50/month), or $59.88 for a full year ($4.99/month)!
Club Digital now comes in 2 resolutions. Choose either 200ppi or 300ppi from the drop down box to select .
- When you purchase, you are automatically entered in to the following drawings:
- Buy a 3 month subscription and go into the draw to be upgraded to a 6 month subscription
Buy a 6 month subscription and you might win an upgrade to a 12 month subscription
Buy a 12 month subscription and your name will go into the draw for a $30 coupon for the DSP store.
Welcome to the club!
Here is a selection of layouts created by the DSP Team Digital using this months Club Digital Selection.
Click here to find out more about Club Digital
(back to the top)
It's Shop Time!
Featured Product - Birthday CD
Celebrate everyone’s birthday with this CD, Scraps of Life - Birthdays, which contains a wonderful variety of kits perfect kits to scrap perfect birthdays from children through to adult.
Winter Whispers Mega Kit
This exclusive and elegant DSP Designer mega kit is packed with super backgrounds and elements to create an entire album of layouts for all your winter photos and more
With soft greys combined with beige this kit brings a unique style and tone to all your winter photos
Mega Style, Mega Fun, Mega Value!!!
Mega Kit contains:
- 22 wonderful backgrounds
- 2 complete alphas
- 1 exclusive font
- 70 elements and word art pieces .
(back to the top)
WACOM with DSP Inside!:
Wacom introduces the new line of Bamboo products with multi-touch and pen input. Use finger taps and hand gestures to navigate and perform simple commands like zoom, scroll, rotate and more. Or pick up the pressure-sensitive pen for precise control to edit photos, make sketches and mark up documents in your own handwriting. No matter how you use your
computer, it just got a whole lot easier. http://touch.wacom.com
And Bamboo Craft has DSP INSIDE!!!
 Bamboo Craft is designed specifically for the interests of hobbyists and crafters who benefit from Pen Input, along with the comfort of Multi-Touch for navigation. Bamboo Craft includes valuable tools for memory keeping and art projects, including inspirational ideas, a training DVD, creative software and much more. http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_craft.php
A few of the great resources inside the Bamboo Craft:
- Software DVD (containing Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 7.0 Win/6.0 Mac, Corel® Painter™ Essentials 4.0, Nik® Color Efex Pro™ 3.0 WE3)
- DVD with 26 scrapbooking lessons from Jane Conner-ziser and a library of digital craft embellishments (FROM DSP!)
- Offer for free 8" x 8" photo album from Shutterfly
- Offer for free online store from Café Press
- Offer for free one-year subscription to Scrapbooking & Beyond Magazine
- Offer for free online training with DigitalScrapbookPlace.com
Be sure to watch the videos of the great touch features. You'll love them!
You might even find more surprises from DSP inside the box!
See the DSP Forum HERE
(back to the top)
My Memories Suite:
My Memories Suite is a premium digital scrapbook application that allows users to make beautiful scrapbooks that can be enhanced by music, narration, video, and the Internet. Create digital albums in minutes using one of many designer templates, or design your own pages using page kits (click here for a tutorial). Share your albums as beautiful hard bound books, print individual pages, watch them on a DVD, or view them on the computer as an interactive CD. You can even share them on an iPod or turn your pages into printed greeting cards that can be mailed directly to family and friends. The robust features of the software provide the graphic tools to make beautiful digital photobooks, while at the same time keeping all your memories—your pictures, videos, and music—preserved in one place.
It is the ideal tool for the beginning scrapbooker who wants to get started and create some awesome albums AND the sophisticated scrapper who wants to create something a little different and very special.
Shop Time Inspiration
It’s time to SHOP… let’s get those baskets at the ready.
We are over half way through the year and what have you scrapped? The good news is that there are four month’s left in the year and that’s lots of time to tell the story of what has been happening in your life. It is not too late to participate in Project 365. Check out the forum and the gallery for loads of great inspiration. There is also a wonderful Project 365 category in the store.
Inspiration Station Calls for December will include:
You know you can do a search for any color you want, it's so easy to find just the right products when you do a color search. Search for product for your project by color. Or check out the themed categories lately, you’ll find lots more kits plus some awesome word art, ploppers, alphas and wow – loads more ideas. It’s always really great to have some general page kits that can be used for just about anything!
Gift Certificates Send anyone the perfect gift!! Gift Certificates are a wonderful way to say - Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, I Love You, or even Just Because!
Did You Know...
...you can get to the store by typing shop.dsp.me in your browser URL bar? Get to the store even faster!
Do you love the product you just purchased and want to tell others? Please consider doing a review ... pass the good word along! We love to hear from you.
Happy shopping
Inspiration for New and Advanced Digital Scrappers!
Digi-Scrapper Inspiration by Mandy
Perfect Personalized Presents
Christmas Quick Gift Ideas
Well it is slowly nearing the countdown to Christmas Gift Giving, and what could be better than a personalized present using your digital scrapbooking goodies – especially for those last minute gifts? If you have left it too late to get gifts professionally printed, there are many projects you can tackle on your home printer or at a photo printing outlet.
 Have you made a Recipe Album, if so, why not make copies as a gift? If not, choose your favorite Cookie Recipe and create a special Recipe Card layout, laminate it, and give it as a gift with a small bag or jar of some sample cookies you have made… A double-treat, the recipient gets the instant gratification of the sample cookies, and the long term gift of the recipe to make more at home. The DSP Store has some perfect Recipe layout kits and albums.
For family members, particularly ones that live some distance away, a copy of your Project365 layouts, 9 on the 9th, or month by month albums will allow them to share in your families lives.
For teachers, why not send your child to school with a camera (hopefully one that is inexpensive) to get photos of the learners in his or her class – and perhaps a written message from each child. The photos can be printed for a little inexpensive 6x4 album with their message on the facing page. If printing is a problem, remember the photos and messages can be put onto a CD or DVD for the teacher to view on her computer or television.
Calendars make wonderful, practical gifts. DSP Store has a whole lot of different calendar options, once again your photo print shop could do these professionally, or you could print them and bind them yourself. You use your 12 favorite layouts made throughout the year or simply use photos for the calendars.
Children and toddlers love seeing photos of themselves – so little scrapbook albums featuring them – are sure to be enjoyed. The little Instant Albums, in the DSP Store make this a simple and relatively quick task.
A framed scrapbook page for grandparents or even your spouse is another gift that is sure to be treasured. Find a pretty frame and create a layout that will fit.
Remember to finish your gift off with a special personalized tag.
The most treasured presents are often the ones made with love, so show off your scrapbooking talent this Festive Season and create special memories!
Here is a Sample Recipe Card by Lynnie
Digi-Scrapper Inspiration by Meg
Relax & Reuse
Are there any months in the year more exciting, and simultaneously stressful, as December? No matter what holidays you celebrate, chances are you are busy this month. So, take a breath and relax for a moment with me. Let's go take a look through your DSP gallery. See all those lovely layouts you've created in your time here? Take a sip of your coffee (bite of pie, handful of M&M's, whatever), and choose four or five of your favorites. Why do you like these particular layouts so much? Did you use an attractive color scheme? Interesting font work? Try a new skill with your photo-editing program? Whatever it is, I would bet that the overall design is exceptional. Layouts that are intrinsically pleasing to the eye tend to be well balanced and cohesive.
Now take a quick glance at your calendar. Yikes, you've got a lot to do! Now, open your photo files. Oh dear, those pictures are starting to pile up and you have many more photo opportunities to come this month. The best thing to do in this situation is to start recycling. Not wrapping paper, but ideas! You've already done a tremendous amount of good design work in your previous pages. When you're short on time, take a shortcut and reuse some of those design ideas.
Most of you are familiar with the technique scrapbookers call "scraplifting". That is, "lifting" design ideas from someone else's layout and reinterpreting them in your own layout. Take this same technique and apply it to your own gallery. Look at those layouts you've selected as favorites and scraplift them yourself! You'll save yourself a ton of time while still creating layouts in a style and design you already love.
 
I've used this technique myself. The first of the above layouts was created last fall. I was really pleased at how it turned out. With its three photos linked only by the time that they were taken, it could have lacked cohesion. However, the title and element cluster in the middle pulled it all together. When my family was all sick last month, we spent a lot of time at home and I amassed many photos of our low-key activities, but didn't have a lot of imagination left to be creative with them. So I scraplifted myself! By the time I was done, the resulting layout was fairly different from the original, but I think the inspiration is obvious. Similar photo, element, and journaling placement create a design reminiscent of, but not duplicating, the original.
Take a look at the following layouts to see how other DSP members have scraplifted themselves and then try it yourself!
By MarsOlson:
 
By Penny M:
 
Have a wonderful, and relaxing, December!
--
Create a great day!
Meg
(back to the top)
Artful Activities: Creating Moments into Memories
When you first join DSP you want to devour every little bit of information there is and it seems a bit overwhelming at first but the absolutely best place to visit first off is the 'What's Happening' page, it's packed with useful information to help you choose to participate in a designer run challenge or contest or make a date to be at one of our awesome chat sessions. To find out the daily and weekly fun at DSP check out the calendar of activities, there's never a dull moment at DSP and you're sure to find something to your taste to challenge you artistically
Coming Events:
Keep watching for other upcoming events in December...
Contests, Challenges and Chats
- Designer Exclusives: Our Designers are the best there are and they are really generous, if you enter one of their challenges you’re more than likely to receive a chat and/or posting bonus just by using their nominated kit for the challenge. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain – like more stash for less bucks with these great challenges.
- Inspiration Station (IS News)
This is a call to all dedicated DSP scrappers to ‘strut your stuff’ and inspire us with your creations. Just choose any or all of the calls for layouts the current month and you could be showcased in our Newsletter or Blog. We have a few rules so check them out and then join in the fun. Check out the current edition of Inspiration Station News or here for Previous Issues
- Inspiration Station Calls for December will include:
- Project 365 - a project for how YOU scrap. Check out our Project 365 chats and the Project 365 store category.
- Multiplicity - Designers get together and chose a color scheme, then ask YOU for background and element suggestions in one exciting thread! You end up with different but coordinating page kits, all made with member suggestions. The designers then chose random winners from the participants, and the kits are also available in the DSP store. These coordinating kits are fabulous for creating a whole album in the same color scheme; there are so many pieces to choose from you’re sure to find what you need!
- Scrapolution – It’s a DSP evolution, a scrapping revolution, and our New Year’s resolution:
It's a SCRAPOLUTION!!
It’s all about YOU, our members, our friends, making scrapping goals and Team Digital supporting, guiding, encouraging, joining, and cheering you on every step of the way. Check out the current themes and prompts.
- Scrap with the DET – Digital Elite Team and DET Alumni
Our past and current Elite group of scrappers have some great challenges going at the moment and you’re sure to get well chosen CC should you need it – learn from the best
- Elite Challenges - be sure to check out the challenges run by our DET Alumni and DET.
- The Grannies If you’re a Granny or a Granny In Training (GIT) or just a Wannabee, you might like to see what other Grannies are up to, what challenges they have going. There is never a dull moment when you join this happy band of digi scrappers.
- IOTW - Item of the week – Abby
The Item Of The Week is priced to sell and generally costs only a few cents; so create a LO using only the IOTW and be in a draw to win a free kit.
- SNL - Saturday Night Live - MarsOlson & Debbers
This is where anyone can create their own digital scrapbook kits to share with other SNL’ers, from elements and papers to word art.
This is just a small selection of popular challenges that DSP currently has running but be sure to check all of them out here. And we have a special blinkie to place in your signature to always remind you where to find the best scrapbooking challenges on the web. Check the end of the first post in the What's Happening thread for the blinkie code.
Happy Scrapping!
Challenges you may have missed” - Meryl’s Heritage Album Scrap and Chat
In addition to her designer challenge, Meryl Bartho hosts a heritage chat and challenge to encourage members to work on their heritage albums. Each week there is a different theme and a chance to win a free page kit. You can use any designer’s products, you aren’t restricted to Meryl’s - so why not join them each Wednesday at 10-11 pm DSP time (EST) in the chat room.
Click here for Heritage Forum and here for Heritage Gallery
(back to the top)
DSU Information
Its hard to believe that the holidays are upon us! Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas...this is my favorite time of the year! If you are looking for a fabulous gift to give to someone why not give the gift of digital scrapbook classes at DSU! Our classes are also the perfect gift to add to your own holiday wish list!
I hope you enjoy this holiday season and have a wonderful time with your family and friends! There will be no classes offered for the month of December to allow our hard working instructors to enjoy the holidays with their family and friends. Our classes will resume in January!
To read more about any of our classes, please visit our classes page. To register for any of our classes, please visit the DSU registration page.
We would love to hear your suggestions on future classes! Send your suggestions and comments to me at dsu@digitalscrapbookplace.com.
Amber
Dean of DSU
(back to the top)
Desktop Calendar Plopper
A newsletter exclusive! Specially designed ploppers for your computer desktop. This month's lovely calendar is by Heidi Kuester. Download the plopper here! (Sizes: 1280x768 and 800x600 are included.)
Add your pictures, angle and size them as you please, add journaling, and save it as a jpg. Then update your desktop wallpaper background by browsing to your new image! Voilà! Favorite photos matched with this month's calendar to help keep you up-to-date all month! Look for a new one each month in our newsletter!
(back to the top)
Newsletter Challenge
We are always striving to make our newsletter more interesting and useful. If you have an idea, let us know about it! If it's an article idea, a feature, even something you'd like to write, shout it out to us. So, put your thinking caps on and come up with some new features, article ideas, or something fun you'd like to see in our monthly newsletter. Then email it to comments@dsplace.com. (Please type "Newsletter IDEA" in the subject line of your email.) We can't wait to see your ideas!
(back to the top)
Newsletter Freebie
Exclusively for our newsletter readers, DSP Designer, Heidi has created this fabulous Naught or Not Plopper (we’re correcting the image to say Plopper instead of Page Kit!). Grab the 200dpi HERE! and the 300dpi HERE!
Thanks, Heidi, we appreciate it so much!
(back to the top)
Many thanks to the newsletter Team:
Amber, Kim, Lauren, Lynnette, Meg, Mandy, Mars, Heidi, not to mention our fearless leader, Margie!
If you're not a registered member of our site why not Join Now!
All new members receive a free gift. Feel free to pass this on to your friends!
You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive it at www.digitalscrapbookplace.com.
You can subscribe or UN-subscribe from this newsletter on our site.
|
