Letter
From Team Digital
What a BLAST we had in Maysville! DSP member KYBumpkin, aka Lori, expertly organized a crop in her hometown of Maysville, which is on the north border of Kentucky near Ohio. The setup was perfect – powerstrips, food, and GREAT company when DSP members and staff showed up! Margie brought her large format printer (Epson R1900) so we had a chance to see it work its edge to edge printing magic. Tina had DSP CDs to give away and everyone went home with at least one. The awards Lori had prepared gave us a good laugh as she passed them out. The “Tired Butt” award for the person who travelled the furthest to get to the crop went to Shirley (Scamptx) who joined us all the way from Texas! The “Dale Earnhardt Jr. Award” for being the first through the door was earned by Debbie (KYdeb), and the “Jim Carrey Comedian Award” went to Christina (MommaByrd2003) who was a great cut up. One last award, “Most Confuddled” went to Reba (flrebareba), and brought the biggest applause, as she had actually shown up to the crop location a day early! When she found the Community Center, she walked instead into a training program for a local business. All of the attendees were men and she realized it wasn’t Saturday yet! I bet they didn’t mind the interruption.
Those of us who brought laptops got some layouts completed, and the few who did not, didn’t feel left out, as there was plenty to see, eat, and chat about. We all felt like old friends no matter how “old” or “new” we were to the site or digital scrapping. The warm and friendly atmosphere that DSP gives us online transmits easily to being there in person. I personally had never been to a crop before so it was funny to be called “Z” audibly. I’m well used to reading it but it took me a while to answer to it out loud! We took our group photo outside the Community Center and the photo credit goes to Diane (diturpin) In the photo: Back row - Diane (diturpin), Z (Elisabeth), Tina, Cynthia (dapupsmom), Kim (Kimberly Sue), Debbie (kydeb), Lori (KYBumpkin), Amie (javamama), Cody (a paper scrapper and nanaw’s delightful mother), Deb (nanaw). Front row – Reba (flrebareba), Margie, Shirley (scamptx), Christina (Mommabyrd2003) and Jo Ann (timmy girl).
After the crop several of us finally got to hook up with designer Linda Rechtin! She had missed the crop due to car trouble but a dear friend rescued her and brought her to us in Maysville. (Thank you Susan!) We then got to meet some croppers’ family members over dinner at Tumbleweeds. I feel sure none of us wanted to end the evening, but there finally came a time for us all to make our sad goodbyes. I am so happy I went to the crop and met so many wonderful DSP-ers. I definitely recommend attending any crops that are near enough for you to travel to; you’ll never forget it! If there doesn’t seem to be one near you, organize one yourself and contact DSP for support! See the list of upcoming events below – two are very soon - and make your plans. Happy Cropping!
Elizabeth Weaver
DSP Designer
Upcoming 2008 DSP crops and events:
Weekend of May 16/17 - Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Saturday,May 31 - Atlanta, Georgia (northeast metro)
Thursday through Saturday, June 5-7
Great American Scrapbook Convention (DSP hosting classes and crops)
Arlington, Texas
For more information:
http://www.greatamericanscrapbook.com/
Saturday, July 26
Adobe Headquarters, San Jose California
Monthly Crop – repeats first Friday of every month
Troy, Ohio
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!
Club
Digital
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This month you will find a super variety of great products to inspire you to create wonderful layouts . Included are 2 very different kits - one in soft browns and pinks that is quite modern yet distinctly feminine. The other in rich tones with romantic notions for the layout about the one you love. You will also find a very elegant 4 photo heritage styled plopper and, and a great romantic monogram style alphabet that will add a bit of spring charm to your layout . You will also, as usual find a useful 2 photo quick click, some lovely and very useful journalling stamps and some Mothers Day word art. Dont forget the exclusive Club font as well .
- Fresh Cocoa Page Kit
- All My Love Page Kit
- Simple Elegance Ploppers
- Floral Ornament Alpha
- Floral Journaling Stamps (PNG Format)
- Mother's Day WordArt
- DSP Font - DSP Ray
- Two On A Bracket QuickClick
Here are some sample layouts done by our designers with this month's Club Digital!
Click here to subscribe to Club Digital today!
Featured
Designer: Rene' Bross
With Mother’s Day quickly approaching and my two year Anniversary with DSP coming up in a couple of months, I have been reflecting on how this great journey began for me. Two and a half years ago, a very special friend of mine and incredible scrapbooking artist, was put on bed rest during her difficult pregnancy. Forced to stay in bed and unable to get to her dining room table full of paper scrapping products, she turned to digital scrapbooking on her laptop and began to scrap digitally about her bedrest situation. She took photos from her bed - of the dresser, of the lamp beside her, of her then 2 year old son peeking over the bed to see her, of the sliding glass door she looked at longingly every day, which represented the outside world she couldn’t be a part of for a couple of months. She journaled about the sacrifies of being a mother, how it was all worth it and of the love that was to arrive in a couple of months. Her layouts, with these simple photos at interesting angles were amazing to me. Her heartfelt journaling brought tears to my eyes. Then she explained to me what fun she was having in her new digital world and she began to peek my interest. Honestly, I was reluctant at first. I had quite an inventory of traditional scrapping products and I believed you had to “feel” the scrapping products. If you weren’t using real products, you were cheating, in my then naïve opinion. I wondered how you could really be artistic in a digital world. Finally she convinced me to give it a try and I was completely hooked instantly.
In fact, I became so enthralled with digital scrapbooking and DSP that I became a designer nine months later. Digital scrapbooking has allowed that other part of my brain- that non-mommy part that longs to do something for herself, something creative and beautiful- to be fullfilled in so many ways. Besides the artistic aspect of the craft, there is a whole other bonus to being envolved at DSP- the social aspect. Being able to meet fellow scrappers and artists from all over the world is a bonus I had never dreamed could be a reality. If you would have told me two and a half years ago that I would be hosting an online Bingo game every other Friday night with incredibly fun women from all over the world, I would never have believed it!
So this Mother’s Day, I have to give special thanks to my friend Maritza for being a wonderful friend and sharing her incredible bedrest layouts with me. If it wasn’t for her I don’t think I would have jumped into this world so readily. And I would also like to thank you- all the members of DSP- for making this place so fun, inspiring and truly addicting!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers here at DSP who work so hard to preserve their families memories every day!
Rene’ Bross
Senior Designer
You can join in Rene’s Super Bonus Bingo Chat every other Friday at 10PM EST.
(Be sure to check the bottom of the newsletter for a special freebie
from Rene' to our newsletter readers!)
Member
Spotlight: Corgi Lover
This month's Spotlight Member is our very own Corgi Lover! She has a beautiful scrapping style, as her two terms on the DET will attest to. She enjoys all sorts of hobbies other than scrapbooking, especially crafts. She has a beautiful family and two wonderful children, who you will find gracing the many pages in her gallery.
Read more about Corgi here and her stunning gallery here.
Thank you for being our May Spotlight Member Beth!
It's
Shop Time!
Shop
Time Inspiration by Erica
It’s time to SHOP… let’s get those baskets at the ready.
May 3rd is National Scrapbooking Day and we’re having a SALE!!
SAVE * ~ * SAVE * ~ * SAVE
Load Your Cart and save 15% on Downloadables & CD’s*
How awesome is it to have two great sales in as many months – so dig deep into those pockets as you only have until 11:59PM EST to load your cart to the brim.
*Sale only applies to Downloadables and CD’s and does NOT include Item of the Week or Club Digital.
***********************************
What little Girls Are Made Of? Sugar and Spice and all things nice! We all know that rhyme…but did you know that we have a new CD especially for the little girls in your life? Make sure you check the ‘buy now’ button when you’re doing your Sale shopping. You can be sure it’s jam packed full of all things girly – you name it this CD has it.
Overlay Stacks are becoming very popular with digital scrapbookers and is it any wonder; they make your layouts really come to life and save you time. They can be changed to tone totally with your colour theme by using various manipulations and add a touch of pizzazz just where you need it.
Don’t forget to check out our May Club Digital 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 be much better than that.
“Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people. They are born with a little bit of angelshine about them, and though it wears thin sometimes there is always enough left to lasso your heart. . .” Alan Beck
Happy shopping…
Here is just a peek at some of the kits you get on the All Girl CD.
Scraps
of Life: All Girl
Scraps
of Life: All Girl Downloadable
Digi-Scrapper
Inspiration by Mandy
Little “somethings” for Mothers Day in a snap
If your Mom is anything like mine, she will use just about any excuse to whip out a brag book and show off photographs of her “gorgeous” children or grandchildren. My inspiration for May is to make her a new brag book as a gift for Mother’s Day.
Flowers for Mothers Day – perfect!!! I am, of course, talking about the non-wilting kind… one of those Ready to Go! 3-D Flower Board Books would make a lovely gift for mom… What could be better than flowers showcasing precious photographs? Use your digi-scrapping skills, or WOW her friends with a hybrid project. The addition of some ribbon, braid, fabric flowers and little charms are all it takes!
If flower shaped albums are not your style, there are other shapes to choose from, as well as practical square-shaped board books. If you have limited time to complete the project, choose an instant album made for the Ready to go books, and simply drop in your photos, print and glue!
If you unable to get a board album shipped to you in time (and you don’t have one waiting for you in a cupboard somewhere) consider one of the little 6x4 instant album brag books – which are quick, easy and inexpensive!
My favorite creative idea, for something a little different, is to make a little mini album (3.5 x 2.5 in) that you print out and slip into conference badge holders – which you can tie together with a pretty ribbon or raffia cord. Some little charms or beads can be added to the ribbons for personal appeal and a feminine touch.
If you really would like to give something different, not photos or brag books, consider using your feminine kits and word art to make up a little set of inspirational mini cards on a “Mother” theme.
Make up a set of seven (one a day for a week), 12 (one for each month), 52 (one for each week of the year), or a full set of 365 for a whole year’s supply of quotes just for Mom. It sounds daunting, but it really isn’t. A background, some elements or a groupie, some word art– it is quite possible to make up a whole set in a snap. Alternatively, make these into a mini booklet for your Mom to treasure throughout the year.
MANDY’S TIP:
If you are like me, and don’t like dramatically resizing elements for tiny 3.5 x 2.5 inch sized layouts, try doing what I do. I make the layouts at least double the desired size, in this case 7 x 5 inches or 10.5 x 7.5 inches. When I am happy with the layouts, I merge them and let the computer resize to 3.5 x 2.5, to scale, on the finished layout. * Always remember to save the original BEFORE merging.
* After merging and re-sizing, use FILE – SAVE AS a JPEG for printing.
Your original should still be safe in its layers and larger size for any editing you may wish to do at a later date.
Digi-Scrapper
Inspiration by Meg
Scrapbooking gifts
In May we celebrate May Day, National Scrapbooking Day, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day, among many other holidays. Each of these provides us with an opportunity to share our scrapbooking skills with others. This May, put your printer and glue stick to work as you make cards, business card sized instant albums, purse inserts for your mom, or any of the Beyond the Layout crafts!
To start off my month, I wanted to make a traditional May Day basket for my grandmother. Flowers to plant and a little keepsake, both with a few s
crapbook touches!
Here I used Rene Bross' Easter Bonnet Page Kit to create a wrap for the flower pot. It's a small pot, so I sized my canvas to 3" x 11", and added just a background paper and ribbon. Double sided adhesive at the seam keeps it attatched to the pot. I used a small hole punch on each side (punched through the wrap and pot) and threaded a ribbon through to hang the flowers from her doorknob.
This wallet sized frame holds a picture that's special to both of us and I added some of Tina Chambers' beautiful Word Art from her Poetry of Earth set. I added a magnet to the back of the frame and strung a ribbon through the end with a couple of Making Memories tags to finish it off. (I also sealed the edges with a glitter glue to be sure the pictur
e doesn't slide out over time!)
This was a very quick project to put together and yet it will bring such happiness and be looked at daily. Think about putting together a little project of your own to share with the special people in your life this May.
When I first joined DSP I just wanted to devour every little bit of information I could; what’s happening at DSP I wondered? This is the first place I looked and I was blown away, this page is packed full of information and from here you can check out the Daily, Weekly or Monthly activities and all the challenges that DSP has going on.
Coming Events
NKOTB 12 – Sign-up happening now. For all those that are looking to improve their skill or some constructive comments on their layouts – this is the challenge for you. The next New Kids On the Block challenge is due to start 12 May. You must be a newbie to enter into this challenge so be sure to check the rules in the forum.
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. Valeri is back with a great challenge with a chance to get her new kits - A Day In My Life. Meryl has a neat idea on how to make use those plastic name tags – Album In My Pocket great altered art project.
Featured newsletter designer: Rene' Bross – Rene’s Chats and Challenges
Rene’s Designs
Rene’s GalleryTeam Letter: Elisabeth Weaver – Elisabeth's Chats and Challenges
Elisabeth’s Designs
Elisabeth’s GalleryInspiration 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.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!
DSU110 – Adobe Photoshop: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
DSU120 – Adobe Lightroom 1.3: Creative Photo Editing and Organization
DSU160 – Adobe Photoshop Elements: Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking
DSU192– Introduction to Graphics Tablets
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) (Pre-requisite- DSU 110 or similar experience)
DSU261– Adobe Photoshop Elements: Creating Digital Elements for Beginners (Pre-requisite- DSU 160 or similar experience)
DSU270– Adobe Photoshop Elements: Brushes
DSU321– Adobe Photoshop/Photoshop Elements: Advanced Montage (Pre-requisite: DSU 221)
DSU331 – Corel/Jasc Paint Shop Pro: Creating Digital Elements for Advanced Users (Pre-requisite DSU231 or similar experience)
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
Desktop
Calendar PlopperA newsletter exclusive! Specially designed ploppers for your computer desktop. This month's offering is by Rene' Bross. 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!
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!
Exclusively for our
newsletter readers, DSP Senior Designer, Rene' Bross has created these great buttons! Grab it here.
Thanks Rene'!
All new members receive a free gift. Feel free to pass this on to your friends!
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