Letter
From Team Digital
It's
that time of year again! The time when our thoughts turn to roses, boxes
of chocolates and love, love, love!
That's right, it's Valentine's Day!
A day for celebrating all those that we love. Those who mean the most
to us. As scrapbookers we don't need an appointed day. We celebrate those
people every time that we create pages. What is the driving force behind
scrapbooks? Preserving our lives, and the lives of those that we love.
It is love that makes a scrapbook. Pages about those that we love, crafted
with tender loving care. We pour our hearts and souls into these keepsakes.
And they are created for those that we love.
Take a little extra time this year though to actually grab some photos
on this special day. They don't need to be anything fancy, just photos
of those you love on this very special day of the year!
Don't forget the journaling! If you struggle with journaling you can take
a look at this article on Emotional
Journaling. Need something more in depth? You are in luck! DSU offers
a class in The
Art of Journaling, taught by Beth Nixon (check for dates).
Most importantly this February- be sure to tell those around you how much
they mean to you. Share the love and you are sure to get it back tenfold.
And of course, I couldn't leave this without saying how much all of us
at Team Digital love our members at DSP!
Have a wonderful February filled with love and memories.
Tina
Chambers
DSP Senior Designer
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It 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, the girls are on hand to give you some answers. And everyone who attends the chat will get a link to a free kit! Trying out digital Scrapbooking for the first time? Use your free kit and try your hand at a layout . . . we know you will love it!! More details here including how to use the chat room!
Are you thinking about posting your first layout? There's a special first layout challenge for you. Post your first layout to DSP this month and you may be a random winner for a free page kit!!
Welcome to DSP! We
know you will love it!
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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, a plopper or an overlay, an alpha, word art, 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. Plus, 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! That's well over $23 value for such a great price!
The longer you subscribe, the cheaper it becomes and the better value for you.
This month you will find a superb variety of wonderful items for your valentine scrapping pleasure. Included is a wonderful soft romantic-graphic kit in tones of black, white, and red, and another kit, also in black, white, and red, but much more of the traditional paper scrapbooking style. You will also find a useful 3 photo plopper to display your true love, some wonderful love word art and a set of great heart doodle stamps. In addition there is a great late winter alphabet and a new quick click and of course a great new font.
Here are some sample layouts done by our designers with this month's Club Digital!
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 subscription will go into
the draw for a $30 coupon for the DSP store!! In addition every month
there is an exclusive contest for club digital subscribers with great
prizes.
Click here to subscribe to Club Digital today!
It's
February, and like a lot of people during Valentine's Day month, I'm in
LOVE! Well, I have to let you in on a little secret; it's an unusual love
affair. But even so, I know I'm not the only one with these yearnings;
I've seen the comments out there, in the gallery, discussed in the forums;
requested everywhere!
Alright, confession time - It's not chocolate, it's not coffee, it's not even gorgeous colourful graphics. So…. you're asking - Um, what does that leave out, because I don't have time if it's not one of those three!
I have fallen in love with quick clicks. In love with using them, in love with making them, everything about them. They got their start as layout "time savers", but there are so many reasons to adore them! For beginning digiscrappers they are the very stepping stones to learning layout design. To advanced level scrappers they are still a launching pad to see how you can warp them into your own personal designs. I have seen amazing art created with quick clicks as a springboard. And as a designer I find them a challenge to put together, like a puzzle, hoping to accommodate the very best ways to suit all scrappers. I lean towards creating many-photo quick clicks, because I love to chronicle events, and many of you do too. Getting a whole day's, week's, or even a year's most memorable photos onto one or two pages is a real challenge, but one which is so satisfactory for our recording of time. For this purpose check out the new double page quick click templates! More than just two coordinating templates, many of them offer the design spread which flows from one side to the other and looks so beautiful on your facing scrapbook pages. Using these and making them have really pushed me through that particular layout challenge. And as always, one page quick clicks with space for one or a few photos are just as gratifying when you don't have many images to display.
If you haven't fallen in love with quick clicks, then make a date with the first one to introduce itself! Instructions are included in the downloads, and DSP's tutorial section features how-tos on using QCs with various software. Beth Nixon and I have an upcoming challenge called Prompts and Props which will be a good chance to play with a double layout quick click! In the meantime, I have designed a free and easy one for you, included in this newsletter. See how creative you can get with it - I'll be watching the gallery to see. And heck, if you must, grab a cuppa coffee or some chocolate, too, for a totally pampered scrapping time.
Wishing you all
a safe and happy month!
Elizabeth
Weaver
DSP Designer
(Be sure
to check the bottom of the newsletter for a special freebie from Z to
our newsletter readers!)
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Member
Spotlight: Ms MFebruary's Spotlight Member is none other than Margo, or you may know her better as Ms M! Her gallery is packed with beautiful and creative layouts of her cats, as well as her DS, plus her photography is amazing, and she has such a one-of-a-kind flair to her layouts that you simply must see!
Read more about Margo here and see her wonderful gallery here. Then be sure to check out the February Scraplift the Spotlight Challenge!
Thank you for being
our February Spotlight Member Margo!
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It's
Shop Time!
It’s time to
SHOP …let’s get those baskets at the ready.
Shop
Time Inspiration by Erica
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
my soul can reach. . . . Elizabeth Barrett Browning
When we read beautiful love poems like this we think of all the people we love and our hearts overflow with warm feelings of joy. The shape of a heart is synonymous with this feeling and what better way to show your love than with The Ready to Go! Heart Board Book, an ideal gift to give this Valentines Day or any time of year. 14 pages of love that are fun, easy to use and incredibly versatile. Why not make it an extra special gift by recording your own loving message with the Scrapbook Voice Recorder. What a treasure, a speaking ‘time capsule’ within a scrapbook page that holds a personal message for your children and family to listen to. You can use it time and time again to make your gifts and pages truly personalised. Here is another useful addition to your Ready to Go! Heart Bound Book that will make your life even simpler, these gorgeous ‘be my valentine heart shaped instant album’ pages by Rene' Bross, so no excuses, you do have time to make that loving gift of a heart bound book.
P.S.
I Love You!
This month
we have something very special. A mega-kit, P.S. I Love you, designed
by our DSP designers. This mega kit has 18 backgrounds, two overlays,
four pieces of word art, two alphas, and it's just stuffed full of fun,
unique elements! Below are two samples of just a few of the pieces included!
Be sure to check out the store
for this incredible deal! All these pieces for only $9.99! Run, don't
walk over to the store and get this one in your shopping cart!
Digi-Scrapper
Inspiration by Mandy
Creative Use of Mini Albums
If the
idea of filling 12 x 12 albums with single, individual layouts, is a
prospect you find overwhelming, boost your confidence by completing
a Mini-Album.
Mini-albums are a great starting point for beginners. From the outset, you know you have a beginning and an end point, and that when you have completed the layouts you can confidently print out, bind and display them. Not only do you feel a real sense of accomplishment at having completed an album of layouts, but they also make fantastic gifts for loved ones and family.
For Valentines Day this year, why not consider one of the Heart Shaped Instant Albums - Be My Valentine by Rene' Bross or Love Story by Lauren Bavin. Simply add your photographs, Word Art and journaling. Print them out and stick them into the Ready to Go! Heart Board Book for a different Valentines Day present.
These heart shaped layouts, with the addition of Valentine or Love themed Word Art, make gorgeous Valentines Day cards and anniversary cards (cutting out the heart shape and gluing to cardstock card). They can also be turned into charming gift tags – by simply resizing them and printing them out as little two or three inch mini layouts. For my 14th anniversary I gave my husband 14 gifts – each with a heart tag and a fun cryptic clue or poem giving a hint as to what was in the present!
I firmly believe that a beautifully presented gift will always make a favorable impression. My favorite non-layout use of these heart shaped albums has been to resize them, print them out and attach heart-shaped candy on a stick with double-sided tape, which my children took to school last year and presented to their teachers and school teaching staff for Valentines Day – from the feedback I received, they made an impression, a Valentines gift that was simple, stunning and really unique.
For some hints and tips on creating successful mini-albums, I have posted some in the 2008 – A Year of Memories thread.
Digi-Scrapper
Inspiration by Meg
I think every scrap booker, at some point (or multiple
points) of their journey as an artist, longs to create a personal record
of their own life in a Book of Me. Documenting not only the resume of
their existence, but also their hopes, dreams, and personal memories
of the events featured in their family's scrapbooks. Most of us can
scroll through our galleries here at DSP and discover beautiful, artistic
pages filled with children, spouses, pets, and places. But where are
we?
It's been said many times, by many people, that we need to include ourselves
in our scrapbooks so that our children and future generations will know
the person behind the artistry, behind the camera. Why is that so difficult?
As scrap bookers, we hold memories in our hands, we can shape them as
we wish. But the visible by-products of those memories (our photos)
tend to be ones we've taken ourselves, and we aren't usually in them.
Sharon (DSP moderator Shazzt) and I are running a challenge that will
run through the month of February, and it is one that is so important
for us storytellers to try. Every day in February, we challenge you
to take a photo of yourself, and post it in the Photo
A Day gallery. At the end of the month, you will have 29 photos
of yourself to use in your personal Books of Me. Sharon has been doing
this challenge herself for over 150 days already, and she has some great
advice to share with us on exploring new angles, techniques, and props.
Check out the Self
Portrait Challenge thread to sign up and get the details.
So next February, when you're looking to create a sweet memento for
your significant other or child, you can make a very personal mini-album
of your dreams for and with that person. Enhanced beautifully with portraits
of you.
For
more inspiration be sure to check out the DSP
Blog and sign up for the DSP
Store Newsletter! (To receive the store newsletter, after logging
into the store,
click on My Account. Scroll down to Email Notifications and click on
subscribe to newsletter and be sure you are checked to receive the emails.)
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Inspiration
Station Calls
IN-SPI-RA-TION
– A stimulus
to creativity in thought or action.
YEAH!!! Inspiration Station now has a new team:
*Creative Director - Kim Liddiard
*Momof1Chef - Jill
*Corgi Lover - Beth
*OrangeSue – Tara
Why not join the team and inspire others or let yourself be inspired.
There are some great themes this month, of course February just wouldn’t
be the same without a Valentines
Day call and for all you Altered
Art fans please share with us the crafts you’ve made using DSP
products. We have the ever-popular Club
Digital call and if you’re not already hooked on the monthly
Club Digital products there's no time like the present to join now.
We have a very special group of scrappers know as DET
Alumni and they are all set to WOW us with some amazing inspirational
layouts this month.
This is a call to all dedicated DSP scrapper to ‘strut your stuff’ and inspire us with your creations. Just choose any or all of the calls for layouts this 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.
Deadlines for calls
this month are:
Club
Digital February (Deadline – February 15, 2008)
Be
My Valentine (Deadline – February 28, 2008)
Beyond
the Layout Crafts (Deadline – February 28, 2008)
How
do you share your layouts? (DET Alumni) (Deadline – February
28, 2008)
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Coming up in February is NKOTB11. What is that? It's the 11th running of a contest just for new scrappers! It's lots of fun, a great way to meet other scrappers, learn LOTS, and get a few freebies!! Be sure to check out all the information and sign up!
Not new? Well be sure to support our New Kids! (Plus there may be mini-contests for the best New Kids supporters!! Keep your eyes open!)
For more on the challenges and contests run at DSP, keep your eye on the What's Happening at DSP thread. Challenges include the Designer Specials where you'll be challenged to use featured products and get bonuses. Each designer runs a few each month; lots of chances to build up your digi-scrapping supplies! There's also more fun challenges; like the member hosted monthly lyrical challenge, SNL, Bootcamp, and IOTW challenge. Check out the thread to be inspired, to be challenged, and to have fun!
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Information
2008 has started off great
for my family and I hope it has for yours! One of my new year's resolutions
was to catch up with my scrapbooking and I've made some progress! If
learning or improving your digital scrapbooking skills was your resolution
then DSU has the classes for you! Late registration for February classes
goes through February 5th. Here is a line up of our March classes:
DSU110
– Adobe Photoshop: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
DSU160 – Adobe Photoshop Elements: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
DSU192 – Introduction to Graphics Tablets
DSU193 – Card Making: Digital to Hybrid
DSU211/311– Adobe Photoshop: Creating Digital Elements for Beginners and Advanced Users (self-paced)
DSU215 – Adobe Photoshop Actions and Automations ( Photoshop v.7 and above) (Pre-requisite- DSU 110 or similar experience)
DSU225 – Adobe Photoshop: Paths ( Photoshop v.7 and above) (Prerequisite DSU 110 or similar experience)
DSU220– Adobe Photoshop: Brushes (Prerequisite DSU 110 or similar experience)
DSU261 – Adobe Photoshop Elements: Creating Digital Elements for Beginners (Prerequisite DSU 160 or similar experience)
DSU290– Exploring Digital Design Styles
DSU312 – Adobe Photoshop: Creating Digital Elements for Advanced Users 2 (Prerequisite DSU211)
DSU331 – Corel/Jasc Paint Shop Pro: Creating Digital Elements for Advanced Users (Prerequisite DSU231 or similar experience)
DSU350– Photography: Creating a Home Photography Studio (Prerequisite DSU151)
If you would like more information regarding these classes, please visit our classes 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
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Desktop
Calendar PlopperA newsletter exclusive! Specially designed ploppers for your computer desktop. This month's offering is by Elizabeth Weaver, using her Victorian Valentines (available in the store February 4th) and Kim Liddiard and Lauren Bavin's Cursive Elegant Calendar Stamps. Download the plopper here! (Both 1024x768 and 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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All new members receive a free gift. Feel free to pass this on to your friends!
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