A Letter from Team Digital

I remember the day DSP was born… It might sound a little cheesy, but that day was almost as special as the birth-days of my very own babies.  A handful of very special women, led by two amazing leaders, worked together to bring such a special place to life.  Sometimes I think back and get a little boggled by the fact that we work side-by-side with very special women, most of whom I hadn’t actually met face-to-face. 

Today, DSP is significantly more than a handful of amazing people.  There are more than ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND Digital Scrapbook Place members spanning the globe.  Chances are there are DSP members in your town!  Neighbors AND neighbors…  That boggles me almost as much as having friends, dear friends, whom I haven’t ever physically touched.  Imagine…  Three years and one hundred thousand lives touched.

Just a couple weeks ago, I got to share a day in Cincinnati, Ohio with some of these dear (think DEAR scrapbook place) DSP friends!  Of course, it felt like we’d been neighbors and friends for years.  Finally meeting in person some of the special women who share a big part of my life was a very memorable event.  It seems very fitting that we celebrate these milestones together…  All one hundred thousand of us!

MUCH love to my DEAR scrapbooking place friends!

Suzi

Suzanne C. Walker
Senior designer

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New to DSP?

New to DSP? Are you new to DSP or new to Digital Scrapbooking? Then this is the place for you! Here are a few things to get you started!

First, in this forum, Introduce Yourself, you can post a thread to let us know all about you! That's a great way to get started. Are you new to digital scrapbooking?

Then check out this article, Digital Scrapbooking 101!

Have a question you can't find the answer to? Well, there's a forum JUST for beginners! Post any questions you might have . . . we keep a special eye on that forum and there's always helpful people around to help you out!

Looking to post your first layout to the DSP web site? Well, then August is a great month to do it!! Check out the challenge to post your first layout to DSP and you could win a free page kit!

Welcome to DSP! 

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New Kids on the Block 9

It's time to sign-up for New Kids 9! First Round starts Tuesday August 7th.

To participate, you must:

• have fewer than 50 layouts in your gallery
• never won a contest where your layout was chosen by judges
• never been published in a book or magazine (print or online)
• never participated in the New Kids contest. You're only a New Kid once.

Okay - so what is this New Kid thing? What exactly would you be getting yourself into?

New Kids consists of 3 weekly challenges. Each week there's a different kit provided and a different challenge.

You then have a week to create your layout. You are allowed, no - you are greatly encouraged - to post consecutive versions of your layout, asking for constructive criticism and making changes as you go. This is the most important part of New Kids!

By the end of the week, you move your final version into the judging gallery. After that, the designers, moderators and advanced scrappers judge them. This usually takes 3 days.

We do this 3 times, and then I calculate the Overall Winners and we announce them at a chat. But the general consensus has always been that Everyone Wins with new layouts, now skills, and new friends.

Scrap Pink

Mark your calendars now for Scrap Pink - September 29th! Watch for details, events and prizes.

Bring a friend, and create projects celebrating the special women in your life. Layouts created will be eligible for a national contest.

Proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

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Club Digital
Are you a member of the club?

Ever wished for a monthly fix of the best digital scrapbook products money can buy delivered direct to your inbox? Well now you can have it. Club Digital is the hottest club in town.

Each month you receive a wonderful selection of scrapbooking products . Something to suit every style and level of digital scrapper.

You will always receive two complete page kits, one plopper or an overlay and an alphabet, some great word art and more - a font and a set of png "stamps" for your scrapping pleasure, and don't forget the quick click template included in each club digital pack. Now club digital subscribers get an extra gift of an exclusive coupon for use on future purchases in the store 

All this for the incredible price of $5.99 or even less!!!

Thats well over $23 value for such a great price -

The longer you subscribe - the cheaper it becomes and the better value for you!!!!!

Buy a 3 month subscription and go into the draw to be upgraded to a 6 month subscription, buy a 6 month and you might win an upgrade to a 12 month subscription , and all those who buy a 12 month sub will go into the draw for a $30 coupon for the DSP store.

Click here to subscribe to Club digital today

In addition every month there is an exclusive contest for club digital subscribers with great prizes.

This month you will find a great variety of items to get your summer scrapbooking off to a roaring start! A funky bright and bold page kit and a rich and gorgeously elegant  page kit, a simple but versatile plopper, funky map-themed alphabet, and some really elegant keepsake stamps. In addition you will find some relaxation word art, a super versatile quick click template and of course a brand new exclusive font.

Here is a selection of layouts created by the DSP designers using this months Club Digital Selection.

See more samples and sign up for the club here.

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Member Spotlight

Please welcome me in congratulating Amy, better known as prodigal1978 as our August Spotlight Member!! Since joining DSP in January of this year, Amy has become an obsessed scrapper creating layouts that celebrate her life and the love she has for her family. And that cute little daughter of hers just shines from her gallery! Read more about Amy here.

Then go check out her gallery and the Scraplift the Spotlight challenge! You could win just for scrapping one of her fabulous layouts!

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Featured Designer: Beth Nixon

I'm a scrapbooker! Two and a half years ago, I would've never thought that would be a word I would use to describe myself. But, here I am. A completely addicted digital scrapbooker. I was never crafty. I can't cut a straight line and I'm a perfectionist. So, creating a scrapbook seemed completely out of my league. And, honestly, I didn't get it. What was the big deal about scrapbooking. It didn't interest me as a hobby in the least.

Then I came home from a vacation with hundreds of photos that were great but certainly didn't capture the time we had. So, I started putting together collages on the computer and adding a few words. Suddenly, I got it! Not only could I see the memories, I could re-live them anytime I wanted to! Oh my! And on my computer with the power of the undo button!! And I could unleash my long repressed artistic side! Oh my, is right!!

After a search for some technique, I stumbled upon DSP and it's like a giant light bulb simply exploded inside me. Look at this community: knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, enthusiastic, artistic, nurturing. To be part of a community that's supportive, not competitive, that includes everyone of every skill level is wondrous. It was a revelation. I was creating works of art that captured the absolute joy I feel with my life. 20 years from now, I'll be able to look at my layouts and remember exactly how I felt. Joyous, satisfied, sad, confused, proud. All right there. Once you start creating layouts, it's impossible to stop!

And you want to learn more and share and encourage! And that is what makes me so happy and proud to be a DSP Designer. That I can share and encourage other scrappers. When I see a layout made with one of my products, I am flattered beyond measure. Seeing other's preserve their memories, their precious moments, using one of my kits, is such a honor! So, thank you to all of the DSP team and community. For encouraging me, for laughing with me, for crying with me, for supporting me, for teaching me. Yes, I'm a scrapbooker. Oh my!

Beth Nixon
Designer

Layout made using Caffeinated Mojo (available after Aug 4th)

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DSU Information

We have another great line up of classes for September! If you would like to register for any of these classes, click here!

DSU110 – Adobe Photoshop: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
Instructor Emma Powell.

DSU130 – Corel/Jasc Paint Shop Pro: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
Instructor Emma Powell.

DSU190 – Layout Design (2 week class)
Instructors Lauren Bavin and Sharon Topliss.

DSU220 – Adobe Photoshop: Brushes (Pre-requisite- DSU 110 or similar experience)
Instructor Emma Powell

DSU270 – Adobe Photoshop Elements: Brushes
Instructor Emma Powell.

DSU351– Photography: Home Lighting (Pre-requisite DSU151 and DSU350)
NOTE: This class is for intermediate students and beyond. Students must have a camera that you can set to manual mode and some sort of backdrop. Instructor Suzanne Walker.

Be sure to visit our classes page for more information regarding these classes and our other great classes at DSU!

We would love to hear your suggestions on future classes! Send your suggestions and comments to me at dsu@digitalscrapbookplace.com.

We’re also looking for qualified DSU instructors! If you would be interested in teaching, please contact me for more information.

Amber, Dean of DSU
dsu@digitalscrapbookplace.com

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Challenges/Contests/Events

Check our Calendar of Events and the Events & Activities Links thread for a complete list of all events and challenges. Here are a just a few of our exciting Challenges!

New Kids on the Block 9
Are you new to digital scrapping? Looking for a fun, intense learning experience with a touch of competition? Come find out more about New Kids! Sign-up now, we start Tuesday August 7th.

Jamie's Chats and Challenges - Join Jamie every Monday night at 10PM EST for alternating chats and challenges! Creating from Color is a fun challenge where you get to suggest a kit theme, then give your suggestions to help build the kit. Once the kit is completed, posting bonuses are awarded to anyone posting a layout with the kit. Inspiration Quick Crops will provide you with some type of tool or inspiration and you'll have one hour to post a layout. Posting bonuses are awarded.  Check out Jamie's chat forum for further details on challenges.

Dates:
August 6 & 20 - Inspiration Quick Crop
August 13 & 27 - Creating from Color Chat

The All for One with Linda Challenge is a weekly challenge/chat hosted by designer Linda Rechtin on Wednesdays, 9:00pm ET. Every week Linda gives out a chat freebie, and assigns a featured kit for the week. In the chat there's loads of fun with talk of everything from upcoming kits and scrapbooking, to chocolate! Members have one week from the date of the chat, midnight, to purchase and create a layout using the featured kit and then post it in the All for One with Linda Gallery. After that, she sends a PM with a posting bonus to all participants! This way, members end up with all three items - All for One price! Be sure to check out the All for One with Linda forum for the latest featured kit and freebie previews, along with some great inspirations in her gallery.

DET Bootcamp
Join in to stretch your scrapping skills in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. (Come join even if you don't plan to enter the DET contest - the Bootcamp is open to all!)

Our Heritage Chat with Meryl at 10.00p.m. every Wednesday, join us to work on your Heritage album – each week we have a new challenge and award a page kit voucher as a prize.

Tea for Two & Two for Tea with Meryl at 11.00 a.m every Thursday – each week we tackle a different scrapbooking technique, and your prize is a sneak preview of Meryl’s latest products.

Super Bonus Bingo- every other Friday night with René Bross. Every one who attends will get a bonus freebie and if you get a Bingo, you'll win René's latest page kit!

Beginnings with Bethy
Join the Beginnings with Bethy challenge for the first half of August as we will work on a challenge to create a layout about ourselves and use a funky fun kit that will spark our creativity! The featured kit and add-on will be Caffeinated Mojo. This neutral browns of this kit are jumping with green, orange, yellow, and red highlights. And the graphic pieces are so utterly versatile, you'll be up late playing with new ideas!

For a bonus, we have an alpha. Hmm, an alpha? They aren't always the most exciting sets around but you'll be chomping at the bit to get your hands on this one! Color it, make it a sticker, crop your backgrounds . . . the possibilities are endless!

And be sure to check out this newsletter for the coordinating Caffeinated Mojo framing element pack as a freebie! Hope to see you at the challenge!! And enjoy the element pack!

Props and Prompts
DSP Designers Elizabeth Weaver and Beth Nixon team up for their monthly challenge: Props and Prompts with Z and Bethy for another fun challenge!  See the details in the forum.

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Newsletter Challenge!

We are striving 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. If we incorporate your idea into the newsletter, you could win a free page kit! 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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Item Of The Week (IOTW)

Each week a new item goes on sale for only 99 cents. Check out the IOTW challenge starting each Sunday. Buy the kit, use it to make a layout, post it to the IOTW gallery and the designer will have different prizes for you! It could be a posting bonus, a random drawing, chances at a free fonting, you never know! Check it out this week! The Item of the Week for July 29th is the Take a Walk page kit by Lisa Carter.

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What's New in the DSP Store?

Scraps of Fun - Great Outdoors Scraps of Fun - Great Outdoors (downloadable)	Scraps of Words - Great Outdoors Scraps of Words - Great Outdoors (downloadable)
Jacquard Keepsakes 25% Off These products are jacquard woven, never printed, 100% cotton, machine washable and will not fade! Blankets, wall hangings, pillows and tote bags.

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The Newsletter Desktop Calendar Plopper

A newsletter exclusive! Specially designed ploppers for your computer desktop. This month's offering is by Beth Nixon, using her Caffeinated Mojo page kit (available after August 4th.)

Download the plopper:
Both 1024x768 & 800x600 are included.

And just like any of our ploppers, put your photos on a layer underneath the desktop plopper. 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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