Scrapbook MAX!

Scrapbooking Software for Real Life

Digital Scrapbooking Magazine

Digital Scrapbooking Challenge and Freebie by Carena

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Hi everyone. Wow it’s been sometime since we have had a Special Edition of the Groove Newsletter. It is my pleasure to be able to provide this issue for you all. I have a great new challenge for you all! You’ll also find a coupon code below that you can use to save 20% on Carena’s designs – one week only (ends April 16, 2014!).

I have a MINI Challenge Kit Delight Bonus for you to DOWNLOAD HERE and to work with. Please check out the PDF included which might help you and inspire your creations. Below are the rules of the challenge.

CHALLENGE

1. Use only parts provided in the Delight Bonus or from the Kit: Delight along with your own photo/s and Title Text.

2. Use the paper 2 times on your layout – whether you use a shape or like I have a simple twist and darkening or lightening of 1 of them.

3. Use the frame provided in another area of your layout not as a frame but decorative.

4. Try using some part of the bonus whether the leaves like I have or another element with a lowered opacity. This is a favorite technique I love to use to make the papers look different. It can really add so much to your layouts.

5. Mostly the challenge is to have fun.

Please post your layouts in the Scrapbook Max Gallery Groove Challenge Gallery and join us by sharing your link and layout in the forum where I will host the challenge – SEE HERE. We all love to encourage and support our members. It’s a great community and family atmosphere.

Here is my layout I’ve done. I hope you love working with this mini.

For those who purchase the Kit: Delight or BUNDLE (bundle offers great bonus savings for you to enjoy) from store and use it in your challenge layout I have a SURPRISE BONUS GIFT FOR YOU.

How Cool is that? Remember you must add your layout to the gallery and forum. Be sure to have your messages enabled or I won’t be able to contact you with the Surprise Bonus Gift should you purchase and use parts from the kit.

Here is a quick look at the FULL BUNDLE

and now I would like to share with you some of my latest kits in store – see HERE for my latests products in store.

HOW TO SAVE 20% Off on Carena Scott’s Kits Until April 16, 2014

**To get 20% off on Carena’s kits, please visit Carena’s category in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Kits and Templates Store. Add a minimum of $5 worth of Carena’s kits to your cart, then type in the code DELIGHT exactly as shown into the ‘Coupon Code’ field before checkout. You must type in the code at the time of purchase to get the discount. Hurry – offer is one week only and ends on April 16, 2014!

Note: Offer applies only to digital kits and templates sold in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store, on orders of $5 or more. Coupon code DELIGHT must be typed in the coupon code field before checking out. Valid on new orders only, expires April 16, 2014. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.**

Check Out NEWEST PRODUCTS HERE

Featured Products HERE

Vintage Baby Boy by Carena’s Designs

Vintage Baby Girl by Carena’s Designs

In the Meadow by Carena’s Designs

and here is a layout I did with this kit. It’such a fun kit to work with.

The kids will love the pages you make with it.

I would like to also invite you to participate in the other challenges at Scrapbook Max found HERE. So much fun to be had and it’s also a great way to learn new techniques. See you in the forum.

Many thanks from Carena’s Designs.

Sandrine’s Scrap Challenge and Sale

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Welcome to a “Special Edition of The Groove” with Guest Author and Scrapbook MAX! Kit Designer Sandrine Boarqueiro-Verdun! Thank you Sandrine for offering your creativity and your insights into using Scrapbook MAX! software.

Below you’ll learn a bit more about Sandrine, see some of her gorgeous designs, pick up some handy Scrapbook MAX! shortcuts, and get invited to a very intriguing “blind” challenge. Plus, there is a one-week, 20% off sale going on in Sandrine’s category in the Scrapbook MAX! kit store – the coupon code and all the details you need to get your discount are found at the bottom of this post.

Thanks Sandrine -and enjoy, all!

KapiScrap & Art Bio

Let me introduce myself to those of you who don’t know me yet. My name is Sandrine aka KapiScrap. I am French and I am living in the South West of France. I am the mum of two adorable boys, who are a great source of inspiration.

I created my own company in 2000. I work in the development and testing (quality) software area. Three years ago I created KapiScrap & Art, which focuses on the digital scrapbooking industry. I discovered digital scrapbooking at the end of 2009.

KapiScrap & Art has designed a great collection of kits based on various themes (baking, vacation, kids, holidays…) and with different styles, ranging from vintage style kits like Baking Memories and Once Upon a Christmas to whimsical and more colorful kits like Winter Fun Penguin Style, Tropical Holidays and Monsters on the Loose.

Before starting to draw the items of a kit or to create the papers, I think of a kit as a *whole*: the style, the palette, and I list all the items. We are two people designing at KapiScrap, so we often share the tasks as we draw everything from scratch and some items require several hours to be designed. We have developed Best Practices to ensure high quality products.

I am an active member of the Scrapbook MAX community. I share as I can my knowledge of Scrapbook MAX! 2 on the forum and I offer challenges on a regular basis. Take a look at the 52 Project Life challenge. Even if you have not joined it from the first week of the year, you can always join it from now.

Challenge: Blind Scrap

For this special edition of The Groove I offer you a new challenge, which is a “blind scrap”. It means that you are going to discover the final rendering of your page layout once your page is completed. I hope that you will have fun in making your page layout.

What you must know before starting…

Before giving you the instructions for the challenge, I would like to share some Scrapbook MAX tips with you.

Shortcuts

Scrapbook MAX! 2 provides different keyboard shortcuts. It’s a great way to perform quickly actions. You can see the shortcuts when you click on a command (File, Edit, Align, Page…) in the menu bar (menu commands). When you click on a command, a dropdown list of options appears. Click on Align… You see the different options and the associated shortcuts.

Scrapbook MAX shortcuts

For the command Align to Left the shortcut is: Ctrl+Alt+1. That means that if you press simultaneously the keys: Ctrl and Alt and 1 on your keyboard you align the selected objects to the left.

Of course, Scrapbook MAX! supports the most common standard shortcuts like Copy-Paste (Ctrl+C – Ctrl+V). When you copy paste an object, the object is copied with its settings. For instance if you set the shadow for the object, the object will be copied with its shadow.

But Scrapbook MAX! also offers additional shortcuts and here are the three ones that I use all the time!

If you type the key S on your keyboard, you can set the size of the selected object. You only have to enter the values in the box which brings up and to press the button OK to validate.

If you type the key A on your keyboard, you can set the value for the angle of the selected object.

If you type the key P on your keyboard, you can set the value for the position (x – y) of the selected object.

Set Position with Scrapbook MAX!Example – If you set the position to 0 for x and 0 for y the selected object will be placed in the left top corner of the page.

So keep in mind: A for Angle – P for Position – S for Size

These shortcuts are very useful for getting accurate page layouts.

How to add a photo in a custom shape

When you apply a custom shape to a selected photo or paper scrap, this allows you to achieve effects.

To apply a shape to a photo, add your photo on your page. Then double-click on the Photo. It brings up the Photo Properties dialog. In the Settings tab check the Custom Shape box and then click on the Select… button.

To apply a shape with Scrapbook MAX

You can select a shape in the Select Shape dialog; they are classified by Category.

To apply a shape with Scrapbook MAX

Once you have selected the desired shape click on OK to close Select Shape dialog, and on OK to close the Photo Properties dialog.

Please note that you apply a shape to a paper scrap in the same way. You can also add your own shapes (a shape is a .png file).

About the Shadows

Keep in mind that the Shadow settings will not result in the same rendering according to your page size.

Take a look at this post for further details about the shadows…

What You Need For The Challenge

Before starting select a photo and a kit.

Step By Step Challenge Instructions

1. Launch Scrapbook MAX! and open a new project.

Select the menu Page > Settings and then click on the Size tab of the Page Settings dialog box to set the page size:

Size: 3600 x 3600 pixels

Resolution: 300 pixels/inch

2. Add a Background paper with no pattern.

3. Add an Embellishment that you will use to decorate your background paper. Place the embellishment (Embellishment A) on the left top side of your page and set a transparency between 50 and 75.

4. Copy-paste (Ctrl+C – Ctrl+V) this embellishment and place it on the right middle side of your page.

5. Add a patterned Paper Scrap (Paper A) and use the shortcuts S (for size), P (for Position), A (for Angle) to set these values:

Size: 3100 x 3100

Position x: -265

Position y: 600

Angle: 356

Enable the Shadow (Check the Shadow box).

Important: Set your Position, and THEN the Angle.

To set the shadow with Scrapbook MAX

6. Add a second Paper Scrap (Paper B) and set these values:

Size: 3100 x 3100

Position x: -530

Position y: 744

Angle : 354

Enable the Shadow.

7. Add a Photo in a custom shape on your Paper Scrap B and set the Angle: 354

You can set a transparency for your Photo… so it looks like it is merged with the paperscrap.

8. Add a Caption text under your photo.

You could add two Caption texts with a different font. Use the picker to set the same color than your Paperscrap A on your texts.

9. Add an Embellishment on the Paper Scrap A on the right side, and enable the Shadow.Challenge preview

TIP: Select both the Embellishment and the Paper Scrap A and right click. In the popup menu select the item menu: Group. Now the Embellishment is on the layer between the Paper Scrap A and the Paper Scrap B. You can ungroup.

10. Add some additional Embellishments on the Paper Scrap A on the right side, and enable the Shadow.

They should be between the Paper Scrap A and the Paper Scrap B, but you should see them (see the screenshot).

11. Add some Embellishments on the Paper Scrap B below the Photo and at the right side of the Photo.

12. Set your default Shadow settings with the following values. What I call Default Shadow is the Global Shadow. Be sure to check the Global box.

To set the shadow with Scrapbook MAXGlobal Shadow:

Angle: 315

Distance: 35

Transparency: 40

Blur: 40

The new Global Shadow settings will be automatically applied to all the objects for which the GLOBAL Shadow option has been enabled.

13. And now make the page yours!

Once your page layouts is completed, please post it in the Scrapbook MAX! gallery and in the Challenges and Contests section.

Latest Kits

And now let me introduce my latest kits and some page layouts made with them.

Hello February

What happens in February? There’s Valentine’s Day and Carnivals galore! Hello February is a kit based on love and fun while celebrating the month of February. You will love this colorful and versatile kit, just another opportunity to make awesome layouts of the ones you love having fun.

Here are two page layouts made with Hello February that I definitively love… I made this first page layout, and the second one has been made by Wench (Kaye), CT member.

Hello February

Hello February

Cocoa and Coffee

What is better than hot cocoa or coffee after a long day skating and playing outside? Take pleasure in the little delights of winter warming up. Cocoa and Coffee colors are highlighted by the blue tones.

Here are two page layouts made Cocoa and Coffee. I made the first one, and the second one has been made by Kim, my oldest CT member.

Cocoa and Coffee

Cocoa and Coffee

SuperMom

Mummy, Mom, Mother, Maman, Mum… any way you say it, they are super and they are ours! Shower your super mom with love on her special day. Hearts and flowers bloomed in the perfect spring tones to pay tribute to your woman of the year.

Here is a page layout made by Wench.

SuperMom

Monsters on the Loose Album 1

And in another style I just released Monsters on the Loose Album 1.

SuperMom

Enjoy these creative templates made with Monsters on the Loose, these are perfect for capturing the memories of your children into a professional photobook that can be preserved for generations. You will enjoy both the quality and the accuracy of each template as all items and shadows have been placed with precision. Simply place those “must scrap” photos and edit text to get beautiful and high quality layouts in just a few mouse clicks; perfect for those who want to scrap, but have too little time! The album is composed of 10 page layouts with the front and back covers. Size page: 12 x 12.

Visit my store to discover a great variety of kits!

How to save 20% Off on Sandrine Boarqueiro’s Kits until June 3, 2013

To get 20% off on Sandrine’s kits, please visit Sandrine’s category in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Kits and Templates Store. Add a minimum of $5 worth of Sandrine’s kits to your cart, then type in the code CHALLENGE exactly as shown into the ‘Coupon Code’ field before checkout. You must type in the code at the time of purchase to get the discount. Hurry – offer is one week only and ends on June 3, 2013!

**Note: Offer applies only to digital kits and templates sold in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store, on orders of $5 or more. Coupon code CHALLENGE must be typed in the coupon code field before checking out. Valid on new orders only, expires June 3, 2013. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.**

Carena's Sale and Scrap Challenges

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Welcome to a “Special Edition of The Groove” with Guest Author and Scrapbook MAX! Kit Designer Carena Scott! We are thrilled that Carena is sharing her time and talent to bring us all such amazing scrapbook inspiration.

Below you’ll learn a bit more about Carena, see some of her amazing layouts, get great invaluable design tips, a scrapbooking challenge or two, and more! Plus, there is a one-week, 20% off sale going on in Carena’s category in the Scrapbook MAX! kit store – the coupon code and all the details you need to get your discount are found at the bottom of this post.
Thanks Carena -and enjoy, everyone!

Let me Introduce Myself – Carena’s Designs

Hi everyone. For those who don’t already know me, my name is Carena Scott and I have been a digital scrapbooking designers since 2007. I have a daughter – Caitlyn – currently 10 3/4 years old and growing up way too fast. You will see Caitlyn featured in my layouts in the gallery often. I would love to scrap photos of her more often but currently she is at that awful age where she doesn’t want photos taken. Oh RATS! What am I to do? This drives me crazy and so often I have to bribe her to get a photo at all and then they aren’t always the most pleasant of expressions on her face. You know what I’m talking about – pulled faces – strange weird head angles.  Anyway that’s enough about Caitlyn. I guess she is pretty much the normal for her age.
Now as for me – I take care of my elderly mother (recently turned 80 years old). Middle of last year sadly she broke her hip while I was out helping the school with a maths class. She has recovered but hasn’t returned to what she was before the fall.
My design style I would class as REALISTIC STYLE – I love to photograph and painfully extract flowers and leaves to place into my kits. I work with a Canon G10 Camera which I just love. Gives such beautiful clear pictures and a pleasure to work with. Besides the usual scrapbooking style of flowers, ribbons, papers, embellishments I also love to explore SCENE BUILDING LAYOUTS. This for those who haven’t seen before is where you make a scene and extract people and place into the scene. Read further for a look of some examples of this. It’s great fun if you haven’t already tried it. I was very pleased when Scrapbook Max Version 2 Software was released with the eraser tool included in it. Totally awesome and ideal for these scene layouts. It takes time to get used to it but well worth the effort.
Besides designing, watching tutorials to expand my knowledge of scrapbooking and photo editing software, taking care of my family – I then try to avoid housework as much as possible, LOL, I am involved with Scouts. Previously I was a Kea/Cub leader (age group 5.5 years to 10 years) but have put this aside for now and am on the committee as Chairperson for our group. Scouts has been lots of fun and I’ve also been involved with Camps, fundraising etc.
Anyway – that gives you a small insight to me and my activities. Now it’s time to show you some of my   scrapbooking kits and layouts. I hope to meet you at SBM Forum – see the article on Let’s Explore the Forum and Gallery Together further down the page. See you there.

SALE ANNOUCEMENT – 20% OFF Carena’s Designs
from 26th April to 3rd May at Scrapbook Max Store
SEE HERE

*FULL DETAILS and COUPON AT THE BOTTOM of POST*

Panda in the Bamboo – Scene Kit by Carena’s Designs

NEW RELEASE in store now SEE HERE and ON SALE WITH COUPON
Below are some examples layouts made from the Panda in the Bamboo Collection. They have parts from some or all parts of the collection in them. The first 2 are mine featuring my daughter Caitlyn. This was when she didn’t mind photos being taken of her. LOL
The 2nd two layouts are done by Marnie and Elaine. Marnie shows the kit being used in the more traditional style of layout with photos and frames added. Elaine (right) shows her extraction skills and supreme scene building skills. She is such an expert at these. To see the layout better please visit her gallery at SBM HERE. She has another awesome layout using this kit also – see here both feature her grandchildren.
Now of course – sadly we all might not have the skills and expertise as Elaine does (which comes with many years experience) but that’s not to say we can’t make awesome layouts. This is why I love to also make CLUSTER Sets. These are so quick and easy to use. Remember not only can you use them on their own but also add other extra embellishments to them from the kits and paper packs. This is a scene cluster set but the other regular cluster sets can be used and twisted as you like. Remember to hang parts off the edge of your pages. Not everything needs to be centered. Enjoy
Whenever you are stuck for an idea, don’t know where to start? well a cluster will kick start you off. Also be sure to check out the – pre-made papers or stacked paper packs. Already the layout has been started for you.
Above is a layout I did using no papers – just a simple white background and I used a shape to give the black border – or you could start wth a black background and add a white paper. Like so often, there is more than one way to achieve a look.
I used the Cluster frame from then Panda in the Bamboo Cluster pack and popped in a photo of Caitlyn which was taken just a couple of days ago. It was a case of push her out the door to get her to stand where I wanted her and quickly snap the photo. I even threatened she wouldn’t go to Camp unless she did it for me. LOL I’m such a mean mum. It wasn’t exactly the expression I wished to capture. Best thing right now is I have all this free time while she is on school holiday camp for 5 days. I don’t think I could have concentrated properly with her around to post this for you all to read.

and another of my favourite kits is: Days Gone By Collection

by Carena’s Designs

Here we can see the Entire Collection – all available at Scrapbook Max as Individual purchases.
Below are some layout examples – The first 2 are layouts I’ve done. Yes, The one on the right is indeed ME. The one on the left is my Great grandparents.
The 2 layouts above are done by charliesnana and JeanAnn. Both fabulous layouts and I thank my Creative Team for all their work to help me show my kits to you all. They are truly inspiring.

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Lets explore the Forum and Gallery Together

For anyone who doesn’t frequent the Scrapbook Max Forum and Gallery – I wanted to show you around. There are many fun and exciting things happening and it’s a most fabulous place to not just learn new things but also make lots of new friends. I know sometimes people are concerned about interaction in Forums. You are right to think that there are a lot of suspicious people out in the internet world but if this is what is stopping you from joining us at SBM Forum, then let be assure you we are a friendly group of mostly ladies who are interested in scrapbooking. So, why not come and explore and check us out. Really we don’t bite.  Below I’ve listed some starting places for you. Can’t wait to see you – click on the links – it’s a great place to start.
  1. Introduce yourself. How long have you been scrapping? Doesn’t need to be personal information. Don’t lurk no more – We want to meet you.
  2. Check out the Video Tutorial Section HERE or our Tips Area HERE
  3. Challenges – A great place to learn and explore and interact new friends made. Everyone is welcome – in fact the more the merrier.
  4. Sharing Corner – Freebie SBM templates and Embellishments
  5. New Release information from our wonderful designers.
  6. Gallery Area – Great inspiration can be found here. Have you been short of ideas? Come visit the gallery and you won’t ever be stuck for an idea every again. We would also love you to share your layouts with us. We would love to be inspired by your layouts also.
There is really just so much to explore – this is just a starting point. Come and check it all out – and of course – come and explore my gallery where I showcase all my (Carena’s Designs) Digital Scrapbooking Kits HERE and you will find the other designers there also. Totally awesome.

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Carena’s Recipe Challenge – GO HERE

Steps:
  1. Make a page with a solid white background.
  2. Choose one color to feature (in my example I choose blue)
  3. You can use only tones of your colour choice with black & white in your layout. (in my example the flower buds had small amounts of green – so long as it’s minimal)
  4. Use a shape to frame your entire page and color it either Black or your color choice.
  5. Add a Black and White photo and tint it in the smallest amounts of your chosen color. Must be barely detectable.
  6. Add 8 to 15 embellishments to your page. Remember only in your color tones or black and white. How you arrange them is up to you.
  7. Add some text in various sizes – a quote/verse.
  8. Remember to add shadows to all of your elements to give depth of field. Don’t over do it. Remember the rules of shadows – the greater the distance from the item to the surface – the further away the element – the closer the element the closer the shadow. Imagine your elements are laying on top of a piece of paper with the light coming from the top and slightly to the side.
  9. Lastly save and share your layout with us in the forum and gallery. Remember to give credits for the designer and kit used in your layouts in the gallery.
Here is my layout example for you to have a look at. I hope it helps inspire you and helps you understand my instructions.
Above is my Challenge Layout
Below is the kit I used: Natural Breeze by Carena’s Designs
Available at Scrapbook Max Store HERE
Below is some layouts by my Creative Team
charliesnana, emst, Victoria32 and one by myself.
For further inspiration – Check out my Gallery HERE
For everyone who joins me in the forum and participates in the challenge I have a CHALLENGE PARTICIPATION GIFT: Loving Breeze Paper and Clusters by Carena’s Designs
Challenge is OPEN from now until end of May so you have plenty of time to participate.
See you in the Challenge Forum HERE where you can get further information
but also get to see what everyone else has come up with – It’s great way to learn, make new friends
and get inspired to create, create and create even more beautiful scrapbooking layouts.
DIRECT CHALLENGE LINK HERE
FREE MINI ABOVE with Carena’s Challenge Participaton
See details above.
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Kayes Famous Challenges – All about YOU!

This is what she is asking for this round.
I want this challenge to be all about YOU!
I want a themed page to be about you and something just normal in your everyday life – a
bad hair day, getting your nails done, a day in the garden are just some examples.
I would like to see at least 4 photos, they could be consecutive ones – taken one
after the other.
Easy!
SO please come and join both Kaye and myself in some fabulous challenges this month. I want
to thank Kaye for providing a number of challenges in the past months. She has so many
great ideas. If you haven’t checked them out – then please do. You can find there HERE.
Although her previous challenges have ended, you will still learn heaps from them.

Lastly that’s all I have for you this month but don’t forget to check out my SALE.
20% OFF from 26th April to 3rd May 2013 (SEE COUPON BELOW FOR DETAILS)
Hurry to enjoy the savings in my store HERE.
I’ve really enjoyed putting this newsletter together.
I hope I haven’t bored you tooo much. LOL
Have a great scrapping day. Cheers from Carena’s Designs
SEE COUPON DETAILS FOR SALE BELOW

HOW TO SAVE 20% Off on Carena Scott’s Kits Until May 3, 2013

**To get 20% off on Carena’s kits, please visit Carena’s category in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Kits and Templates Store. Add a minimum of $5 worth of Carena’s kits to your cart, then type in the code CLUSTERS exactly as shown into the ‘Coupon Code’ field before checkout. You must type in the code at the time of purchase to get the discount. Hurry – offer is one week only and ends on May 3, 2013!

Note: Offer applies only to digital kits and templates sold in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store, on orders of $5 or more. Coupon code CLUSTERS must be typed in the coupon code field before checking out. Valid on new orders only, expires May 3, 2013. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.**

The Groove September 2012

By

Fall - DaraD

A lovely layout from a past Groove Challenge (February 2008)

In the Groove

**The Groove is moving to a new home!**

Beginning next month, your favorite scrapbooking newsletter is taking on a new and exciting format – on Facebook! You’ll still find all your favorite features: great scrapbooking tips and tricks, digital freebies, scrapbooking challenges, outstanding layouts by Scrapbook MAX! community members, spotlights on designers and scrappers, and more. But best of all, with our new Facebook format, instead of getting one monthly newsletter, you’ll be getting scrapbook inspiration and news posted several times a week for scrapbooking fun all month long!

Now, get even more “groove” right now on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/scrapbookmax – there’s already tons of content to explore. Be sure to “like” us in order to make sure you’re getting all the most recent updates – and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Thank you to all our loyal readers who have tuned in to The Groove each month since 2006. Throughout this issue, we’re featuring some spectacular layouts from past Groove contest for you all to enjoy!

Happy Scrapping!
The Groove Editors 🙂

Memories of Goin’ Retro

Retro - Fiona Storey

Remember this fun and funky contest from March 2007? We loved looking through all your great “yesterday” layouts, especially the Groove-y ones! 🙂

Scrapbook MAX! Designer Profile

Carolyn Ritter
Meet Carolyn Ritter, a “new” Scrapbook MAX! Digital Kit Designer, – although she has been making gorgeous designs since 2007. We’re so glad to have Carolyn aboard! If you haven’t already checked out Carolyn’s ever-expanding category in the store, now is the time! Combining a love of craft, an ability to design on many themes, and an obvious flair for color, Carolyn’s designs are sure to inspire your projects! In fact, Carolyn has shared a beautiful fall-themed freebie for you to enjoy, and a fun challenge to get you scrapping (read on for more details). Learn a bit more about Carolyn now as she introduces herself in her own words.

I’m a mom of two young adult children, a pastor’s wife and a crafter. I have always loved all types of crafts — sewing, crocheting, knitting — you name it, I liked it. So, of course, when scrapping became popular, I was right there with everyone else. I was a traditional paper scrapper for many years (and still scrap that way occasionally since I have so many things to use up).

However, I have also enjoyed working on my computer. When I found digital scrapping, I knew it was a “match made in heaven”. LOL!! But my love for the two combined didn’t stop there. I loved all the digital kits that were out there, but I just never seemed to have what I needed for my layout. That’s when I decided to really learn my program and become a designer. That was back in very early 2007. I thoroughly enjoy what I do and look forward to many more years of designing.

I enjoy creating most any type of kit and there are many things that inspire me. However, I think that my favorite ones are seasonal kits, especially fall and winter as those two seasons are my faves. As I get more kits uploaded to the store, more of those types of kits will be there. I have lots of ideas for future kits, including a wedding series. I’m excited about being part of this community!

And we’re excited to have you with us, too! Thanks, Carolyn! 😉

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

Welcome Fall Freebie

Get involved in a fun challenge to expand your scrappin’ skills – and get a fun freebie in the process! This month, designer Carolyn Ritter has supplied a fabulous fall freebie that you’re going to love. The challenge is to make not one but two layouts, one on a fall theme, and one re-colored for a different seasons. Click here to get the freebie, the challenge details, and to get started!

Christmas Past
Christmas - Nannybernie

We’ve certainly had some beautiful Christmas and Holiday layouts submitted for Groove Challenges over the years! This is one of our favorites from December of 2009 by nannybernie. Feels like Christmas in September, doesn’t it? 🙂

Get a Discount on Featured Scrapbooking Kits

Love the style of Carolyn’s freebie above? You can get 10% off of four of Carolyne’s kits this month (pictured below) available in the Featured Content section of our store! All you need to do is add the kits to your cart, and use the coupon discount code CAR-SEP. Applies only to the kits found in the Featured Content section of our store, new orders only. Offer expires September 30, 2012.

Coffee - Embellishments
Coffee Backgrounds
Keep On Truckin
Bundle of Joy - Girl
New Releases in the Scrapbook MAX! Kit and Templates Store

Great new kits are added to the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store each month. Below is just a small sample of some of new kits recently added to the store by various designers:

Fun in the Sun III – Sandrine Boarqueiro-Verdun

Fun in the Sun


New Orleans – Amanda Wittenborn

New Orleans


By Frog Pond – Carena Scott

By Frog Pond

Goodbye – and Hello!
Summer Fun - Julie Clark

This layout was The Groove’s very first content winner, all the way back in July of 2006! What a gorgeous summer layout by Julie C. – it still inspires today (isn’t that the great thing about scrapbooking? Keeping memories and moments alive)!

Well, we’ve had some great times as a monthly publication! We hope you’ll join us for our new chapter on Facebook as an even better, more interactive, more news and inspiration packed “scrapbook groove”!

Be sure to Like us on Facebook and tell your friends today. And…stay Groove-y!

– The Groove Editors 🙂

The Groove August 2012

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Beach Layout - tin tin

In the Groove

There are still a few great weeks of summer left and we plan to hold on for as long as we can! We’ve included some bright, summery layouts for you to enjoy such as tin tin’s awesome beach layout above (love how the layout looks perfectly sandy!). Michelle McCoy’s cute summer freebie mini kit will be perfect for your pages, and we’re also highlighting some fun kits from the store that will add some color and punch. Read on for more details!

You’ll also find a terrific profile on designer Michelle McCoy along with some of her layouts made by Scrapbook MAX! members. And don’t forget to look for a discount on this month’s featured kits!

Scrapbook MAX! Designer Profile

Meet Michelle McCoy, a Scrapbook MAX! Digital Kit Designer, and very active challenge host – often with multiple challenges on the go! Besides her creativity and great freebies and kits, Michelle is known for her friendly, helpful personality, her courage, and her ability to make everyone feel at home! Learn more about Michelle in the profile below and get a super-cute freebie when you participate in her challenge. Thanks for sharing, Michelle! 🙂

Michelle McCoy
I’m thrilled to be the featured designer of the month and to be a part of the SBM community. My name is Michelle McCoy and I’m a single mom of two wonderful sons. I’m no longer able to work due to many medical conditions. I’m a Diabetic who recently had my right leg amputated. I also have heart disease, neuropathy, a rare skin disease and a kidney disease that requires me to be on Dialysis 3x a week to stay alive. It has changed my life, and I am grateful to have so much love, support, encouragement and positive thoughts from family, friends and from the scrapping community.

I got involved with digital scrap-booking while searching for a birthday card to print and came across Scrapbook MAX!. It looked interesting, so I went to the website, loved the community and the software! I’ve been hooked ever since and have been designing for almost 5 years now as Crafty Scraps. I am always trying to inspire others, whether they are first time scrappers or scrappers that have been creating beautiful things for years! My favorite kits are any with my snowmen in it! In my free time, I like to write poetry, relax with my kids and spend time with my furball – Boo Bear.

Here is a collage of a few of my favorite layouts made by the SBM community, using my kits:

Michelle's Favorite Layouts

Great collage – trust Michelle to get this creative! 😉 – and beautiful layouts Lori, Jana, Sandrine and Linda!
– The Groove Editors

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

August 2012 Freebie

Each month a designer shares a freebie with Groove Readers and challenges you do to something fun with it! Find Michelle’s “turtle-themed” freebie and “sticker” challenge here!

Note: The challenge takes place in the forums here. But because Michelle included two mini-tutorials, we thought we’d include it here, too. Feel free to use Michelle’s tips in any layouts you are working on!

August 2012 Freebie Challenge hosted by Michelle McCoy
(To participate in the challenge, click here.)

Instructions:

*Download my freebie kit.

*Use one of the papers in the download on your layout.

*Add a title on your page making it look like a sticker. You can do this by adding a Caption (Object > Caption), and clicking on the Advanced tab in the Caption Properties box. Here you can adjust the outline. By making the outline white and very large (I adjusted the outline size to 30.9) your caption looks like a sticker. Here is a visual aid to help!:

Click on the above image to enlarge.

*Bring in another background from the my mini kit into your work space as a Paper Scrap or a Photo.

* Change colors if needed

* Now, change the shape from your shapes folder using these instructions:

Shapes and Shadows

Click on the above image to enlarge.

*You can use anything else on your page to finish it up.

*Upload your page to the gallery, then here in the post.

* Thank you for playing!!!

– Michelle

Get a Discount on Featured Scrapbooking Kits

Love the style of Michelle’s freebie and the kits showcased in her cute collage above? You can get 10% off of four of Michelle’s kits this month (pictured below) available in the Featured Content section of our store! All you need to do is add the kits to your cart, and use the coupon discount code MMC-AUG. Applies only to the kits found in the Featured Content section of our store, new orders only. Offer expires August 31, 2012.

StoneWashed
El-Lee
Chicken Soup
Monkey Around
New Releases in the Scrapbook MAX! Kit and Templates Store

Great new kits are added to the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store each month. Below is just a small sample of some of new kits recently added to the store by various designers:

Aloha - Katie Castillo
Monsters - Siobhan Kite
Play Day - Amanda Wittenborn
Summer Love

Is there anything more romantic than a beach wedding? We fell in love with fonzzy’s beach wedding layout, especially her use of the gorgeous blue background. Its color said “the sea” and also contrasted beautifully with the lighter tones of the beach and bride’s gown. Gorgeous!

Beach Wedding - fonzzy

Look for the next issue of The Groove on September 1, 2012!

The Groove July 2012

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Day At the Park

In the Groove

Summer time has arrived! Time to scrap days at the beach, long afternoons on the porch, summer hikes, games and other adventures! To get you all inspired, we’ve kicked off this issue with Kimmyann’s Day at the Park. Love those summery, watermelon-like colors that evoke the tastes of summer!

You’ll also find a scrapper profile focusing on Scrapbook MAX! designer extraordinaire Fiona Storey. Fiona’s giving away a summer freebie, too along with a fun challenge. You’ll also find a discount on featured kits, and more layouts to inspire your summer scrapping!

ONE MORE THING! There’s a HUGE summer sale going on in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store! Read on to see how you can save a whopping 20% off your orders this month!

HUGE SUMMER SALE ON DIGITAL KITS!

From now until July 31, 2012 you can get 20% off on orders of $10 or more in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store. Choosing from any of the kits and templates in our store, simply add at least $10 worth of products to your cart, and type in the code SUMMER exactly as shown in the coupon code box before completing your order. This is a great time to stock up on kits for all your summer scrapbook projects!

Check out what’s new and cool, use the coupon code, and save!

Note: Offer applies only to digital kits and templates sold in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store, on orders of $10 or more. Coupon code must be typed in before checking out. Valid on new orders only, expires July 31, 2012.

Scrapbook MAX! Designer Profile

Meet Fiona Storey, a Scrapbook MAX! Digital Kit Designer, frequent challenge host, and an inspiring and helpful force in the Scrapbook MAX! community since the year it all began, in 2006! Get to know a bit more about Fiona and what inspires her to dream and create her signature designs. Fiona has also picked a few layouts of YOURS that she thought deserved the spotlight. And, she’s sharing a fun-in-the-summertime freebie and challenge with you! Thanks for sharing, Fiona! 🙂

Fiona Storey
I have only been designing since 2006. It all came about by accident, but then the best things always do! I was looking for a way to re-size my embellishments to fit on the handcrafted card I was designing, found Scrapbook MAX!and with hours I was totally hooked!
My designs have changed so much over the years, but I can not say I actually have a ‘style’ as such. I see a photo, an embellishment or more often than not a page that someone has scrapped and I go from there. My head is constantly buzzing with new ideas (most I never get around to making!)
My favourite scrapbook styles are vintage and romantic looking. I love flowers, lace, ribbons, bows and pearls, anything pretty and cute too!
My favourite all time designer is Silvia Romeo. I spend hours trying to design like her. She definitely challenges me to make new items and look at things in a different way. She really does the vintage look perfectly!
Currently I have several projects on the go (confused chaos works for me lol). I am working on a kit for the guys, a vintage kit, and I have something in the pipeline which is bright and cheerful. Diversity is always fun!

Some of Fiona’s favourite pages by other Scrapbook MAX!-ers

This one is by Eye (Irene) – I love her style. She takes a kit and totally transforms it into her own unique style. She has given me so many great ideas for embellishments over the years just by the way she can think outside the box.

Granmas Roses

This is by Marion. I just love her sense of humour. She can tell a complete story on her pages with little effort.

Pisa

Finally, there’s this one by Lindaathome. She is a scrapping machine! I love the diversity of her pages. Every single one is well thought out and balanced.

Delightful Denim
The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge
Summer Fun Freebie

Each month a designer shares a freebie with Groove Readers and challenges you do to something fun with it! Find Fiona’s “Summer Fun” freebie and challenge here!

Save on Featured Scrapbooking Kits

This is your chance to get a few of our profiled designer Fiona Storey’s favorite kits at a great discounted price! Four of Fiona’s kits (pictured below) will be featured in our store all month long, and you can get them for 20% off! All you need to do is go to the Featured Content section, add $10 worth of kits to your cart and type in the coupon code SUMMER (mix and match featured kits and anything else in the store for your $10 order!).

Offer expires July 31, 2012 – full details above!

Island Cruise
Tea For Two
Garden Dreams
Sunshine and Showers
July 2012 Challenges

There’s always something going on in the Scrapbook MAX! Challenges and Contests Forum! Here’s what to keep your eyes open for:

July Challenge Schedule

July 1-31, 2012 – The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge (Fiona a.k.a. Angelwithin)

July 1-31, 2012 – Designer Monthly Challenge (KapiScrap or KapiColors a.k.a Sandrine)

July 1-31 2012 – look for Michelle McCoy’s “Scrappin’ Challenges”

…plus there just may be an extra challenge or two in the mix!

GREAT DEAL ON SUMMER KITS!
Summer Vacation Pack

It’s one of the greatest digital scrapbooking deals going! The ‘Summer Vacation’ Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 Expansion Pack has everything you need to make awesome summer pages – professionally designed summer-themed template pages, paper scraps, embellishments, and backgrounds! It’s packed with digital content valued at over $100 – and it’s yours for only $19.95!

Check out the What’s Included page to see everything you get.

Please note that the Summer Vacation Expansion Pack requires Scrapbook MAX! 2.0.

Plunge Into Summer!

We love this mermaid-themed by Letha! How cool is this? Makes us want to dive right in and go swimming!

The Mermaids

Look for the next issue of The Groove on August 1, 2012!