Letter From Team Digital - Erica Belton

What Team DSP means to me…

WOW! I can’t believe I’ve actually been a member of Team DSP for nearly 12 months. Firstly as a moderator and then as a designer since May 2008!

Being part of Team DSP means you have a ready-made extended family.  So, OK I may only have met a few of the 'family' personally, namely Lauren and Sharon (Shazzt) but we all know this technology age brings us closer together, it’s almost like being in the same room when you’re chatting to someone in the chat room who is, in reality, the other side of the globe. 

My role as a moderator really gave me a great insight into all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make this site run as smoothly as it does, besides all the technical stuff that goes hand in hand with a site as large as DSP, there are the many labour of love women/man hours that it takes to run something like Christmas in July or the DET Challenge for instance.  

So much selflessness comes from Team DSP, if you’re stuck there’s always someone that will help you out, Team DSP are one in a million and I feel honoured to be part of them.

What I see in the camaraderie of Team DSP I also see reflected in the whole DSP Community, it never ceases to amaze me how genuinely helpful and friendly the members are, from the creative encouragement in the galleries to the helpful tips and comments in the forums, whether you’re new to Digital Scrapbooking or an old hand, it’s all about helping others.  That’s why I love being part of the best Digital Scrapbooking site around!! So, when I’m frantically trying to meet a deadline or just sharing a joke with members in my EEE Chat, it always comes back to the same thing…our DSP community is unique and it’s the members that make it all worthwhile. Thank you!

With the Trick or Treat season upon us, my best witch's to you all and happy haunting!

Erica Belton
Designer

(back to the top)

Upcoming 2008 DSP crops and events:

Monthly Crop – repeats first Friday of every month Troy, Ohio

Weekend Retreat for Central Plains States USA, Clear Lake, Iowa. November 14-16, 2008 - check it out here.

Please check here for those interested in any crops that may be happening in your area.

(back to the top)

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. 

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

Welcome to DSP! We know you will love it!

(back to the top)

Club Digital 

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

You will always receive 2 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!!! 

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!!!!!

Buy a 3 month subscription and go into the draw to be upgraded to a 6 month subscription, by 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. 

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

This months selection includes 2 unique and quite different , a versatile and elegant  one photo plopper, a stapled paper alphabet , days of the week Stamps , Some fun Halloween  Word art, a great quick click template and dont forget the exclusive font. 

Click here to subscribe to Club digital today

Here are some sample layouts done by our designers with this month's Club Digital!

Click here to subscribe to Club Digital today!

(back to the top)

It's Shop Time! 
Shop Time Inspiration by Erica

It’s time to SHOP… let’s get those baskets at the ready. 

“We all have our time machines. Some take us back; they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams.” - Jeremy Irons

We know Scrapbooking is about preserving our memories; not only for ourselves, our children but also for future generations and any Scrapbooking page just isn’t complete without a record of the time or date of the event being scrapped. We have some important events coming up in the next few months, like Halloween, Thanksgiving and of course Christmas that we will be scrapping, besides the everyday events that happen in our daily lives like birthdays, wedding, anniversaries, little Billy’s first tooth or Sarah solo recital, all these events have one thing in common, they happen on some day in the yearly calendar.

I was checking out the store the other day and found these great items specifically for making sure the time of our events isn’t forgotten.  There’s no time like the present to get those family calendar gifts done; what about an Advent Calendar for your children, my grandson loves these, take a photo of the 24 days leading up to Christmas day and just pop them into one of our great advent ploppers or quick clicks and we have lots of great stuff to help you create Craft Calendars like CD’s Cubes, Bookmarks, Desks calendars.  Even just adding a fun date  or embellishment to layouts is important too.  So make sure you date those important events, I’ve looked at many family photos that have no record of what time in my family’s past it was, don’t let that happen to your precious everyday happenings that you’re preserving as memories for your future generations. 

“Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.” - Harvey McKay

Scraps of Life - Teen Scene CD - Shippable  - Scraps of Life - Teen Scene CD - Downloadable

Here is just a peek at some of the kits you get on the Scraps of Life - Teen Scene CD.

Don’t forget our October Club Digital is now in the shop, the designers at DSP are the best there are and you get an awesome deal when subscribing to Club Digital – all your favourite designers delivered direct to your inbox at the beginning of each month, can’t get much better than that.

Happy shopping…

 (back to the top)

Scalloped papers and decorative edges adding interest and texture.

Paper scrappers are banking on the continued trend for scalloped and decorative edged papers, acrylic alphabets and elements – something we can achieve with our digital layouts (made easy with all those brilliant kits you have purchased from the DSP store. A search for scalloped brings up tons of fantastic scalloped products.

With Paper-Styled layouts, you are trying to recreate the look of a paper layout. You are trying to bring in papers and elements that add faux texture and contrast to your page,  to make it seem more tactile. People must want to reach out and touch the layout, not believing it could possibly be ‘flat and digital’.

Don’t fall into the trap of believing the scalloped is for feminine layouts, have a  look at sandygb’s layout Washed Out using Lauren Bavin’s masculine A Bit More Boyish Page Kit which is full of lovely texture.

Want to go “fun, whimsical, hand-drawn and doodley”, then Purple Glurpee and Yellow Glurpees Page Kits by Suzanne C. Walker are super fun!
 
For a simply lovely effect, see Mrs M’s Harvest Time using Meryl Bartho’s A Round and About QuickClick Template.

Scalloped edges can be used to frame the layout, or used to frame photos, or even use Lisa Carter’s Decorative Edge Templates to customize your own papers, frames or photo mattes.  I used an edge from her Decorative Edges Set 1 to add a little interest to the piece of paper in the mattes behind the photo, and used a glittered heart edge from the Sealed With a Kiss Page Kit by Kerri Erickson, in my layout: hugs & kisses

If you are a beginner, and you find your paper-style layout looking a little flat, look at the details, check your shadows, look for textures, elements and little decorative features that add interest, and if there are stamps – check they look realistic and a bit uneven where they are ‘stamped’ over elements.  Most of all, have fun trying out those decorative paper edges.

Digi-Scrapper Inspiration by Meg 

Celebrate World Card Making Day, October 4th!

 

Everyone loves getting "real" mail!  In this age of instant gratification and quick notes via email, there is something so exciting about opening the mailbox (you know, the physical one at the end of your driveway?) and finding a personal message, chosen or created just for you.  There is an infinite variety of cards you can design with digital scrapbooking kits to keep on hand for any time you want to show someone you're thinking of them.  By creating the cards digitally, you can save them and later add in embellishments and personal details such as names, dates, etc. Paper crafters all over the world will be spending next Saturday making cards, so let's use the entire month of October to create a stash of cards for all seasons!

 

Here are a couple of mine that I've used several times:

Retro Christmas Page Kit by Lauren Bavin
(Also found on the Scraps of the Season – Winter Holiday CD)

 

In general, card makers keep to the KISS strategy.  Keep It Super Simple!  Use basic design strategies in their simplest forms.  Move the eyes across the card with focus points like word art, one large element,

and smaller supporting elements.  Pair them with a pleasing background or two, and you're done! 

Fresh and Pretty Birthday Card by Meryl Bartho
Boho Chic Doodle Pack by Rene Bross

 And don't you love this candle card?  The template for this card is included in one of the kits you'll find on the Scraps of Style – Card Creations CD. This is a great way to get a jump start on cards of all different styles and themes!

 

Amber Kasmir used one of DSP Designer Kim Liddiard's many card templates to make this card for her sister-in-law:

Shopaholic kit by Kerri Erickson, Credit card from Shop Til You Drop page kit by Lauren Bavin, Card template by Kim Liddiard.

 

Have fun making (and sending) your own homemade creations!  I'm sure they will be appreciated by everyone who receives them!

(back to the top)

Be inspired some more - check out the current edition of  Inspiration Station News

A Special Treat is coming in October
watch the forums for more information...

NKOTB (New Kids on The Block)

If you're new to Digi Scrapping and DSP, we welcome you with an invitation to join in the New Kids on the Block contest running from Oct 4-25! 

What is NKOTB?  Okay - you know you're a newbie, so you're thinking about signing up for the New Kids on the Block contest.  But what exactly are you getting yourself into? For eligibility and specific guidelines, please read. 

This contest gives you the opportunity to learn this new art and create outstanding layouts while earning fabulous prizes and making new online friends.  During 3 rounds, each week you'll receive a new challenge, create a layout, and receive critiques by your fellow contestants and advanced scrapbookers to improve your skills. At the end of the 3 rounds, choose your 1 best layout to be entered into a judged competition for a chance to compete for some great prizes. Everyone who enters will be provided with many free gifts!  

We're look forward to seeing you there - please join us!

Keep watching for other upcoming events in October...

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. 

Featured newsletter designer:  Kim Liddiard - Senior Designer  
Digital De*Lights 
Kim's Designs
Kim's Gallery

Team Letter: Erica Belton - Designer 
Erica's Everyday Events
Erica's Designs
Erica's Gallery

Inspiration Station
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. 

This month’s calls will include:

Color of the Black:  Yellow (Deadline October 15, 2008)
Events:  Halloween  (Deadline October 15, 2008)
Style:  Transparent elements (glass, acrylic etc) (Deadline October 15, 2008)
Family / Relationships:    Siblings  (Deadline October 15, 2008)
CD:   Scraps of Style - Scraps of Life - Teen  (Deadline October 15, 2008)
Club Digital October 2008:  (Deadline October 15, 2008)

Be inspired some more - check out the current edition of  Inspiration Station News 

Click Here for Previous Issues
Click Here for Our Current Calls

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.

Get it off Auto – Lauren and Jennifer
Weekly How To basics for everyone who wants to learn more about their camera capabilities.

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.

2008 Baby Albums – lianne99 (Tara)
You should go see some of these adorable albums of our future digi scrappers – join Tara and all the other mothers in celebrating your little ones life.

DET Boot Camp – Run fortnightly with different leaders
This is great training ground for all DET hopefuls; it’s about honing your skills ready for the next DET Contest. It’s also the place if you just want to gets some really great CC to help you move to your next level of accomplishment.

IOTW - Item of the week – Abby
The Item Of The Week is a priced to sell and generally cost only a few cents so create a LO using only the IOTW and be in the 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!

(back to the top)

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 Senior Designer, Kim Liddiard has created this gorgeous Word Art with Bonus Background.  Grab it here! Thanks Kim!

(back to the top)