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In this issue
Letter from Team Digital - Erica Belton
Embracing Change:
Sometimes the hardest thing we have to do is embrace change; changes are happening all around us, some we take on wholeheartedly while others we shy away from, not wanting to alter our view or existence in the world we know. Scrapbooking has changed considerable over the last two decades, from traditional paper scrapping to replication of this ideal into digital pages. And now digital scrapbooking is taking on a whole new meaning again, take a look around DSP galleries and you’ll see more and more the artistic interpretation of what a layout means to different members. From Fantasy, Grungy and Altered Art Journaling.
Whilst these pages may not reflect or resonate with the scrapping of ones memories as in traditional scrapbooking, whether paper or digital, they do create wonderful memories of whom we are or were, artistically for future generations. I believe digital scrapbooking has given the means to many people who would have not thought themselves ‘artistic’ before to find their inner artist and embrace this change in themselves with pride. I have never paper scrapped and whilst I love seeing the wonderful creations that others achieve with this media, I am a digital junkie through and through and love all the fabulous creations that are coming out of DSP. DSP is the best scrapbooking site because we never lose sight of the fact that your pages are all about YOU and your interpretation of your life that might not fit into a box with many others. Long may your creativity inspire others.
Erica Belton
Senior Designer
Erica’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.
Her Blog
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Site News and Features
New to DSP?
New Member Information:
Our New Member chat is currently on hold, but keep an eyes out on our calendar to see when it starts up again!! The chat is run by Digital Elite Team (DET) members Sands and Mars. The chat is generally every other Friday at 10 pm EST - 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. So when it starts up again, new or old, join in the fun and welcome new members on board.
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!
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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!
The New Zealand crop has been booked for May 30th. More information here.
Although there is nothing specific on the calendar, SO Cal will be posting some photo walk and crop plans for March and April shortly as of yet, keep popping in, there may be a few in the works.
Please check n the Gathering and Support forum if you are interested in any crops that may be happening in your area.
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Member Spotlight: Sheryl a.k.a. swatkins56
 Our talented DSP Spotlight Member for March is Sheryl.
Many things to many people, Sheryl simply describes herself as “Mom”. If you think of all the connotations associated with this one little word, it really does sum up this wonderful DSP member.
Her children, the beauty of nature and even “the novelty to a funny license-plate holder” provide Sheryl with inspiration for layouts. When asked about her scrapping style, Sheryl replied she is still learning.
“Seriously, I did photography as part of my work at World Vision. (This was before all my manual-focus lenses seemed to go fuzzy at the same time when I turned 40, LOL.) My mentor had been a photographer for National Geographic. He described my photography as "journalistic." "See the photo, take the photo." Not artistic. That's my scrapping style. The story is the important thing.
So be sure to check out Sheryl’s gallery and read more about her on the Spotlight Page and then take part in the Scraplift the Spotlight Challenge. Congratulations, Sheryl, and thank you for sharing your talent with us as the March DSP Member Spotlight
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Featured Designer - Teresa Loman!
March is National Craft Month and according to the Craft and Hobby Association, 2010 marks the 16th year for this. I have long considered myself a craft enthusiast of all sorts…maybe too many “sorts”. Between m y bins of fabric, racks of thread, totes of yarn, pots of paint, reels of ribbon, tins of buttons, and books upon books of crafting of all sorts, I would have to say, I am the poster child of just too many crafty hobbies.
I stumbled upon DSP exactly 3 years ago this month. I was working on a project for my son’s class, which required me to come up with a memory book for the class to be sold as a fundraiser for the school. A single Google search for digital scrapbooking turned up Digital Scrapbook Place top on the list. I was hooked from the first day. I was amazed with what all of you were doing with your beautiful layouts. I had heaps of photos and was thrilled to be able to do something with them that didn’t require more tools, more totes, and more mess. A brand new hobby without the clutter! I was also thrilled to be able to enjoy my new found love where ever and when ever I wanted. All I had to do was turn on my laptop anywhere I happened to be.
I have grown quite fond of the community at Digital Scrapbook Place over the past three years and consider myself very lucky to have so many friends all over the globe who live just short stroll through my computer. What would my life be like without DSP?
The month of March will also launch a new project between my girlfriend, Lisa Wingate, and me. Lisa writes inspirational fiction. Her stories are wonderful. Beginning in March, there will be a forum and a gallery here at DSP that will be linked to Lisa’s website. The forum and gallery will be for sharing your stories about the people who inspire you. Lisa came up with the term, Lifespirations for this. I invite all of you to join in and share the treasured inspirational people of your life with everyone, both here at DSP and LisaWingate’s website.
Enjoy National Craft Month! I encourage you to set aside some extra time this month to scrap just a little extra. If the family complains, simply explain that you are just celebrating your craft …and that it wouldn’t hurt them to cook and clean. I look forward to seeing your pages and posts!
Smooches!!!
-Teresa
Teresa Loman
Senior Designer
Note from the News Editor - Teresa has provided a wonderful desktop calendar and a newsletter freebie, so check them out.... AND you can earn a free instant album with one of her products in Featured Designer Challenge!
Teresa's Links:
Click here for her Team Digital Bio
Click Here for her Personal Gallery
Click Here for the Teresa’s Forum
Click Here for the Lifespiration Gallery
Click here for the Woodsy’s Wall Gallery
Click here for All her products.
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Some Useful Links:
 blogger  facebook  flickr  myspace  twitter
New Products Club Digital Events Freebies Tutorials Mentoring Terms of Use Contact Us
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Store News
The following is a small sample of some themes for February. Be sure to check out our theme calendar for sales and fun!
Follow us on Twitter!
**************** March Themes *****************
Spring comes in March - so celebrate the end of Winter with flowers, bright colours and the outdoors.
On March 23rd, celebrate “Take a Walk in the Park Day” by finding a great park, having a family day, talking
Playing, or even having a picnic. Let the brightness of spring make you laugh and on March 19th.
Even though it is technically not Spring, it IS “Let’s Laugh Day!”
and don’t forget GREEN with St. Patrick’s Day!!
**************** A Few Daily Suggestions *****************
**************** Sales *****************
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.
Featured Designer Sale - Teresa Loman
Save 20% on Teresa’s products March 19th through 21st.
May you have an amazing 2010 from your DSP Store Staff
Club Digital
Are you a member of the club?
 Enjoy March's issue of Club Digital. This month's Club Digital is soft and elegant in natural tones of beige and soft sage . The two kits coordinate well to scrap photos from nature to heritage . There is a very useful grungy paper alphabet and a set of soft overlays to add style to your layouts. Add in some useful journalling stamps, and a quick click that will hold up to 9 photos. Don’t forget the "lucky" word art and of course there is a unique font to round out your layouts.
Club Digital now comes in a choice of resolutions - Choose 200ppi or the new 300ppi version when you download.
This months content includes:
- Naturally Page Kit
- Vintage Time Page Kit
- Beautiful Memory Overlays
- Green Grunge Alphabet
- Journal Shapes Stamps
- Luck Is Word Art
- DSP Font - DSP Ellen
- By Chance 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!
As a Club member, you also receive an exclusive coupon for the DSP Shop and can enter an exclusive contest just for members (with great prizes)!
Over $27 in value for the incredible price of only $5.99/month! (Or as low as $4.99 with longer subscriptions!) 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)!
Plus, Club members can WIN! Purchase a three month subscription and you're entered to win a free upgrade to a six month subscription!
Purchase a six month subscription and you're entered to win a free upgrade to a twelve month subscription!
Purchase a twelve month subscription and you're entered to win a $30 coupon for the DSP store!
Club Digital now comes in 2 resolutions. Choose either 200 or 300ppi from the drop down box to select your choice of resolution.
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
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It's Shop Time!
Featured Product - Scraps of Style: Storybook Fantasies
This CD is packed with stylish and trendy kits that will allow you to create your own creative and artistic storybook fantasies . Put your loved ones into landscapes from forest to fishbowl and have fun creating some magic.
See the downloadable 200dpi here and the 300dpi here
This CD contains the following kits :
- A Knights Tale
- Bella the Tooth Fairy
- Butterfly's Ball
- CandyLand
- Cloud Kissed
- Fantastical Forest
- First Star
- In the Hood
- Little Moon Dreamer
- Magical Rainbow
- Something Fishy
- World of Wizardry
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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. See it in our store NOW!!
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. See it here...
 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
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Shop Time Inspiration
It’s time to SHOP… let’s get those baskets at the ready.
The beginning of a new year and time to make some scrapping resolution!!? Time to commit to participating 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 March 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.
CD Spotlight
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Click on the CD images to see the CDs in the store!!
Happy shopping
Inspiration for New and Advanced Digital Scrappers!
Digi-Scrapper Inspiration by Meg
in·spi·ra·tion n.
- Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.
- An agency, such as a person or work of art, that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Competitions, such as the current search for a new Digital Elite Team, have the ability to "stimulate the mind" and "prompt action", even in those of us cheering from the sidelines. Watching innovative ideas and creative techniques flood the DSP gallery is a daily reminder that there is no limit to this art form. We all have different scrapbooking styles, but we all start from the same place. We have stories, photos, and a need to do something with them. What I find amazing is the idea that given the same prompt, we all, as artists, will finish with vastly different creations. Be it a kit, as in the DET contest; a sketch, provided each month in the sketch challenges; or an advertisement, which is the basis of challenges like the Tuesday night Speed Scrap or the monthly Ad Inspiration challenge; digital scrapbookers take that prompt and shape it into an entirely new pieces of art. Which, in turn, inspire others. What a wonderful cycle!
Whether or not you have chosen to compete in the current DET contest, you can use the same techniques found within that challenge. Go through the DSP store and choose a kit by a designer you haven't worked with before, or in a color scheme unusual for you. Now search through your photos and allow the kit to influence your choices. You may find yourself using photos that were previously set aside or remembering stories that you had trouble showcasing. Working backwards in this way (rather than the usual finding a kit to pair with a chosen photo), can literally stimulate your brain in an entirely new way. When you feel inspired by new ideas, your ability to grasp new creative techniques is greatly enhanced. Your desire to reach beyond your present boundaries is stimulated. This is the essence of a creative attitude, the desire to reach for new horizons; and a creative mind needs the resiliency and flexibility that results from inspiration. Push yourself, and you'll find yourself looking for even more challenges!
(Ad Inspiration and resulting layout by DSP designer, Lauren Bavin, from Tuesday night Speed Scraps)
Using an advertisement as inspiration appeals to many of scrapbookers as ads generally include both photography and text. Also, many of us to visual cues and can gather a variety of inspirations from an ad. In general, most people will stick closely to the shape and element placement within the inspiration ad. But there are many other ideas to be found; such as: interesting font work, color scheme, photo manipulation, theme, and journaling style. Advertisements are usually designed by professional graphic artists and they are designed to catch the eye of a reader. We can learn a lot about how to make our scrapbook pages more visually interesting by studying, and mimicking, the designs that appeal to us.
Don't forget to look at the world around you! I believe that we surround ourselves with inspiration, and yet we grow too comfortable with it. We no longer see the wealth of artistic possibilities around us. Not just magazine ads, but TV or billboards along the highway. Not just the digital scrapbooking kits we buy, but the decorations we purchase for our homes. Even the clothing, music, and cars we choose can all provide inspiration for our scrapbook pages. Pay attention to colors, textures, and composition; you'll be amazed at the motivation you'll find in every aspect in your life. Happy scrapping!
Create a great day!
Meg
Digi-Scrapper Inspiration by Mandy
Mouse and Muse
All creative people hit a stumbling point at some time or other. Who hasn’t heard of Writers block? Well I am betting that if you have not experienced it already, you may at some stage experience Scrappers Block, because in the words of George Bernard Shaw: "Everything happens to everybody sooner or later if there is time enough."
One instant source of layout inspiration is just a mouse click away – you guessed it, the Internet… aside from all the inspiration at DSP, consider websites that are not scrapbook related and you will probably be amazed at the inspiration you will find out there… Google: Design Trends for fashion, lifestyle, graphic and web design.
These websites often offer inspiration of some kind – from the layout of the Web page, to the photographs, illustrations or graphics and trends in typography. When you see something you find inspirational, bookmark the page or add to your favorites, so that when you need to find it again you can. Or create an Inspiration Document and save the links that interest you in one place.
Let’s look at three of my favorites:
My favorite at the moment has to be web designer Christian Sparrow’s site. It has a White Space feel to its layout. Back to Nature is a trend for many people in design – both for lifestyle and graphics. The illustrated, penciled, hand-written look works well with the earthy brown paper and elements, and the white smears and blue eggs just pop off the page.
Chris Spooner’s design for the Revolution Driving Tuition webpage would translate well into a scrapbook layout with its paper-style layers, tape, tabs, staples, torn papers and stacked photographs.
I loved the twins children’s goods website Kiki and Bree - the photos, the layout, and even the background with the flight of butterflies. For a simple layout use the website as the basis of a sketch. This will work well for a layout giving and overall theme in the big photograph and document elements of the theme in the smaller pictures. For example you could use it for a trip or event, a layout showcasing baby and baby’s hands, feet, smile…
Remember: “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” - Jack London.
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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 this month...
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
- Project 365 - a project for how YOU scrap. Check out our Project 365 chats and the Project 365 store category.
- 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!
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DSU Information
It’s not too late for these March classes! Late registration is open until the 5th. To register for these or future classes, please visit the DSP Shop!
March Classes
DSU110 – Adobe Photoshop: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
DSU151 – Photography: Taking Better Snapshots
DSU160– Adobe Photoshop Elements: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
DSU195– Wacom & Creative Fun
DSU198 – Storytelling
DSU221/321 – Adobe Photoshop: Montage and Advanced Montage (self-paced)
Be sure to visit DSU for information regarding these and our other great classes!
We would love to hear your suggestions on future classes too. Send your ideas to dsu@digitalscrapbookplace.com.
We’re also looking for qualified DSU instructors! If you’re interested in teaching, please contact us for more information.
DSU Dean
www.digitalscrapbooku.com
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Desktop Calendar Plopper
A newsletter exclusive! Specially designed ploppers for your computer desktop. This month's lovely calendar is by Teresa Loman. Download the plopper here! (Sizes: 800x600 and 1280x768 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!
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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!
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Newsletter Freebie
Exclusively for our newsletter readers, DSP Designer, Teresa has created this fabulous Plopper. Grab the 200dpi HERE and the 300dpi HERE!
Thanks so much, Teresa!
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Many thanks to the newsletter Team:
Kim, Lauren, Lynnette, Meg, Mandy, Teresa not to mention our fearless leader, Margie!
If you're not a registered member of our site why not Join Now!
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