challenges

The Groove October 2009

October 1, 2009 By karin

NEW Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 IS HERE!

Michelle McCoy: Butterfly Layout – made with NEW Scrapbook MAX! 2.0

You may have already heard the great news – we are thrilled to announce the release of a brand new, improved and enhanced version of Scrapbook MAX! – NEW! Scrapbook MAX! 2.0! we’ve kept the fast, fun, easy workflow of version 1, but have added in a whole lot more dazzle for your pages!

You’ll be amazed at all of the amazing artistic and creative things you can do with Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. Bend, curve and squish your text or flow it along a curve; colorize embies and photos to your exact specifications; add outlines and patterned fills to text;enjoy complete control over the blur, distance, angle and even color of your shadows – and SO MUCH MORE! (Read our HUGE Feature List here!) PLUS – it’s all spruced up with a super fast graphics engine, awesome output quality, and more to make your scrapbooks works of art.

Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 is already a hit! In this issue of The Groove, we feature layouts from our members made with the new software and using some of the great new features. we’ve also included some handy mini-tutorial screenshots to help you get acquainted with the program.

We also have a fun new challenge and freebie by Michelle McCoy that gives YOU a chance to win a copy of the new software (see below for details!). Read on to get inspired!

Get Creative With Your Text!

In new Scrapbook MAX! 2.0, you can get creative with your text: add outlines, fill your text with patterns, images and gradients, bend, curve and distort your captions, squish and stretch your characters, and more! Below are a couple of creative examples of what you can now achieve with text in Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 – remember, what you see below are not “word art” embellishments; it’s actual typed text that you can now easily and artistically manipulate to get the results you want!

KPierce – Memories Layout featuring curved text

Marion – Cruise Ship Pool Area Layout featuring curved text and a gradient color fill

Mini-Tutorial #1: Step-By-Step

To Creative Text!

Below is a simple step-by-step mini Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 tutorial demonstrating how to change a plain caption into an outlined text filled with a pattern, and curved and bent into a fun shape to liven up a layout. HINT: You can click on the screenshot images to enlarge them and get a closer look.

Remember – this is just the beginning of what you can do with text in Scrapbook MAX! 2.0! The best way to learn is to play around – you’ll be amazed at your creative possibilities!

Step 1: Add caption text to your page. Double-click on the text to call up its Properties box.

Step 2: Set the Style of text to Image/Pattern, and choose Select Image to browse to any image on your system that you wish to use as the fill for your text.

Browse for an image on your system – we chose an orange paper scrap from the Cloth category:

We also chose to use the “Ridiculous” font – one of the fun new creative fonts included free with your software. Select a new font directly from the Properties box:

Step 3: Click on the Advanced tab for more options.

Step 4: On the Advanced tab, you can check the Show Outline box to add an outline to your text. You can then pick the color for your outline from the color selection box, and adjust the thickness of your outline with the slider.

Step 5: We added our caption text to the page and right-clicked on it. From the drop-down menu that appears, we selected “Bendable”. Now we can drag and pull the dots that appear on the lines above and below our text to shape it into fun patterns. We can even right-click along those lines to add more bend points for more possibilities!

Dragging the bend points to get our text “into shape”!

Wasn’t that easy? And aren’t the results amazing!

Check out our free trial on www.scrapbookmax.com and see what you can do! Or, better yet, buy the full version today and save 20% – PLUS get a free bonus mega expansion pack collection, “Life Is Beautiful” – full of enhanced templates and thousands of pieces of content!

Colorize and Tint – A Rainbow

of Possibilities!

You’ve never been able to adjust the tint and colorize with such precision and ease! Make all of your photos and embies color-perfect with our easy new tools that put all the control in your hands. On the Advanced tab on the Properties box for embies and photos, simply select the Adjust Color box, and use the sliders to alter Hue, Saturation, and Lightness – watch the adjustments as they happen so you can get the exact results you want!

Plus, anytime you are shown a color selection box in Scrapbook MAX! 2.0, choose More Colors to enable an eye-dropper color picker. Simply move the eye-dropper onto a color you love anywhere on your layout, and select it to colorize your object.
How cool is that!

Omajo’s Rock And Roll Waltz Layout- embies have been colorized using Scrapbook MAX! 2.0’s new color/tint feature!

Mini-Tutorial #2:

Colorize An Embellishment!

We made this layout and love it – but think that a blue-toned froggie would be a better match for this page. That’s no problem with Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. HINT: You can click on the screenshot images to enlarge them and get a closer look.

Step 1: Double-click on the froggie embellishment to call up its Properties.

Step 2: Click on the Advanced tab.

Step 3: On the Advanced tab, select the Adjust color box. Then slide the Hue, Saturation and Lightness slider bars until the color is the one you want. You’ll see the changes occur in “real time” as you slide the bars.
We created the perfect denim blue for our frog with a couple of simple slider adjustments.

Step 4: Add the colorized embie to your page and voila!

Easy as 1-2-3! And remember, you can adjust the color of photos too with Scrapbook MAX! 2.0!

NEW in Scrapbook MAX 2.0:

Color Picker “Eye-Dropper” Tool!

HINT: You can click on the screenshot images to enlarge them and get a closer look.

Here’s another colorizing tool in new Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. Whenever you are presented with a color selection box like this:

you can use activate the eye-dropper tool to select a color from anywhere on your page as the color you use to colorize your object! (Note: in this example, we’re working with the color selector box that appears on the Caption Properties Box, but you’ll find the color selector box in other places, too!)

Simply click the arrow on the color box, and choose More Colors:

Then, move your mouse to select a color from your page as shown here (we’re selecting the pink shade of the stitched apple embellishment):

Click your mouse and the eye-dropper grabs this color to colorize your object!

In this example, we’ve colorized our text with the eye-dropper so that it coordinates exactly with the stitched apple embellishment – how cool is that?

The Groove’s Monthly Freebie Challenge!

It’s been an exciting few weeks with the release of new Scrapbook MAX! 2.0, so we’ve made sure to provide you with a super exciting challenge and freebie! Michelle McCoy has shared a terrific freebie and a very cool challenge.

FIND THE FREEBIE AND CHALLENGE THREAD HERE!

PLUS! each week in October 2009, Michelle will be randomly selecting a layout made by a challenge participant – the creator of that layout will win a FREE copy of Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 or, if you already have the software, the mega Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 Expansion Pack of your choice (Bundle Of Joy or Back To School)!

“Stamp It” Challenge!

by Michelle McCoy

This month I thought I would try something easy, but different from the ordinary “Fall” or “Halloween” theme for October. I think this challenge will keep your ideas flowing since there are so many ways to be creative with this.
Here is what I want you to do…
1.) Download freebie.
2.) Using the stamp templates provided, you are to make a layout look like a postal stamp..basically we are making our own personal stamp, but as a layout. Templates provided can be used for 12×12, 8×8, 5×7 or 4×6 in size.
3.) You can ONLY use items from the kit provided. But you MAY change the color of anything you use and you may make other embellishments out of the backgrounds as well…
4.) Upload your layout to the gallery and add the image or link to your page, here in this thread.
5.) ALL participants have a chance to win the new updated Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 software (or, the Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 Expansion Mega Pack of your choice – Bundle Of Joy or Back To School). Every week, I will randomly pick someone who places a layout for this challenge. So if you don’t win the first week, don’t’ give up, make another page for the second week, etc etc…Good luck to you!
6.) If you would like to share your template for others to have, by all means, upload the .smt file here as well..

I hope you have fun with this one, and remember, if you have any questions…Pleeeeeeease ~ ask away…((HUGS))

FIND THE FREEBIE AND CHALLENGE THREAD HERE!

October 2009 “Featured Kits”

Love Michelle’s freebie mini-kit? Looking for kits with a similar style?

Below are October’s four featured kits, all by Michelle McCoy. Be sure to use the coupon code MMC-OCT, to get 10% off your purchase. Simply add any of the four Featured Kits to your cart in the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store until October 31, 2009, and type in the coupon code MMC-OCT, to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code MMC-OCT exactly as shown. Applies to new orders only).

Michelle McCoy – Autumn Bliss

Michelle McCoy – Country Roosters

Michelle McCoy – The Great Outdoors

Michelle McCoy – Jungle Buddies

Shape UP!

You’ve always been able to have fun with photoshapes in Scrapbook MAX! – but now, in Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 there’s another option: INVERT your shape! So, instead of cutting around the perimeter of your photo or scrap, you can “cut out” the interior of it (like the cookie dough that’s left on the counter after you’ve cut out the cookie!). This gives you another creative way to design layouts! Check out what Wendy and Val have done with inverted shapes below. Following that, we show you how easy it is with a mini tutorial!

Booster Pack Store Designer Wendy Gibson uses an inverted shape to jazz up her layout. She used her Applelicious and School Days kits for the great elements – find them in her section of the store here.

Valerie Elanie made this gorgeous layout making use of the invert shape feature.

Mini-Tutorial #3: Invert a Shape!

Getting creative doesn’t get any easier than this! Using Scrapbook MAX! 2.0, invert your photoshapes for endless creative possibilities! HINT: You can click on the screenshot images to enlarge them and get a closer look.

Step 1: Double-click on your photo or embellishment to call up it’s Properties. Choose Custom Shape, and then the Select button to find the shape you want to add.

We added a “galaxy” type shape to a blue paper scrap:

Step 2: To invert the shape – meaning that we’ll be cutting the shape OUT of the paper scrap instead of around it – simply check the Invert Shape box (just below the Custom Shape box). And you’re done!

We hope that you’ve enjoyed this special issue of The Groove as we celebrate the release of New Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. Learn more about it on our site, and remember to check out our free trial at www.scrapbookmax.com. And if you buy today, you’ll save 20% off the regular price, PLUS you get the jam-packed content collection Life Is Beautiful absolutely FREE – all the details are on our site!

Thanks for reading – see you next month!

The Groove August 2008

August 1, 2008 By karin

Layout featuring a cool calendar idea by Wendy Gibson. Read more about it below!

In the Groove

You Scrapbook MAX!-ers are a talented bunch! Your layouts continually dazzle us, and so many of you are true artists when it comes to created elements and templates. We wanted to know what other amazing talents you have, and boy were we impressed!

In this issue, we feature layouts from our readers that display their dazzling craft and hobby abilities. You’ll be inspired by the variety of activities, and at the level of talent! And what better way to capture the pleasure your craft or hobby gives you than by creating a layout?

**A HUGE thank-you to all who sent us “crafty” layouts. Though we could not use them all in this issue, we enjoyed viewing your various talents!**

Read on and get inspired to scrap your own special pastime, art, or craft! You’ll also find your usual Groove favorites: a fab scrapper profile, a discount coupon for this month’s featured kits, a fun challenge by Michelle McCoy, and of course….FREEBIES!

A Stitch in Time

Michelle McCoy shares these two beautiful layouts (above) of handmade objects that are sure to thrill. She describes her cute crafts below!

Light-up Buddies (top layout)

“These crafts were made from terra cotta pots. Underneath the pots, I placed lights and those were glued inside the fish bowl heads…Real cute…”

The Groove says: Awesome Christmas and Halloween decoration idea!

Wall Hangings (bottom layout)

“These wall hangings were hand drawn and then stitched by me…You might recognize their cute faces from some of my kits…”

The Groove says: Perfect for a newborn’s nursery!

Keeping Organized, and Keeping Memories

Calendar Craft (top layout)

Wendy Gibson used Scrapbook MAX! to make an adorable calendar set (see top layout above). Read her description of this awesome idea, and get inspired to make your own!

“Here is a calendar made using my small calendar template found in the Scrapbook Max! store.Once personalized you simply print it off, cut out the pages and bind together any way you wish. For this particular calendar I punched holes in the top left corner of each page and inserted an eyelet then ran a binder ring through the eyelets, finishing it all off by tying my favorite ribbons to the binder ring. If you don’t want to bind your calendar together you can simply display the pages in a clear acrylic brochure holder, which can be found at your local office supply store!”

The Groove says: Perfect for popping in your purse or pocket – no more excuses for being late! LOL

Sandblasted Art (bottom layout)

We were dazzled by KPierce’s awesome sandblasted art abilities. Take a closer look at her amazing family heirlooms!

“We create vectored graphics, print <cut> the graphics on vinyl with a plotter, place the vinyl mask on the item, mask the portions of the item not covered with vinyl with tape for protection, pull / remove pieces of cut vinyl we want to sandblast <this could be many pulls which allows for various depths called multi-stage>; when sandblasting is finished clean up the item.”

The Groove says: Quite simply…WOW!

A Crafty Freebie For You!

Enjoy this freebie Scrapbook MAX! template featuring a collection of bookmarks!

Scrapbook MAX! can be used for many crafts and projects other than scrapbooking. One craft we have read about in the forums several times and that we are particularly fond of is making bookmarks with Scrapbook MAX!.

So, for all you bookworms out there, visit this thread and download a freebie template of bookmarks – just print, cut out, and never lose your place in a book again!

Of course, you can personalize these bookmarks any way you wish, or get inspired to make your own original bookmarks!

The Groove says: A great addition when you give a book as a gift!!

Content used to create bookmarks from Scrapbook MAX! Classic Edition, Wedding Edition and Baby Edition.

Scrapper Profile

Meet Paula K. (aka pkdoll)

Paula K. (aka pkdoll) is a talented participant in the Scrapbook MAX! forums who generously shares her talent, digital scrapbooking advice and friendship. Get to know her better below (and be sure to ask her if she still pulls out the ol’ saxophone every now and again…)

Q- Tell us one thing about yourself that others are often surprised to
learn.

A- Hmmmm—this is a hard one to answer. I am a pretty predictable kind of person. The one thing that comes to mind is that everyone close to me (family, friends, coworkers, etc) always tells me that I am very good at whatever I put my mind to doing and I don’t give myself enough credit. I’m too hard on myself and easily intimidated. Oh! And I played the saxophone in my high school marching band!

Q- What made you interested in digital scrapbooking?

A- I actually was just starting to learn paper scrapping and started buying all these supplies and I thought wow this is really a lot of work and a big mess. I googled scrapbooking online and I came across some digital sites and saw what people were doing and thought this is awesome! Then I happened upon Scrapbook MAX! and downloaded the trial software and fell in love with it! So I ordered the full version and the rest is history!

Q- Where do you get your layout ideas?

A – I get most of my ideas from surfing the galleries to see what others are doing. I will see a layout that I just love and than ideas pop in my head, and I start thinking of pictures I have and inspirations for pictures I should work on taking. Most of the time I have no clue what I will create. I will find a kit I like and bring in the background paper and then the picture I want to use and it takes off from there.
Q- Tell us about your favorite feature of Scrapbook MAX!.

A- I like everything about it. What’s not to like? It is so versatile and easy to use that beginners can start creating layouts instantly, and the more advanced scrappers can play with the features and expand on their talents.

Q – What tip would you share with a newbie to Scrapbook MAX!?

A – I would highly recommend being an active participant in the forums. There is a wealth of information, freebies and an extremely friendly and supportive group of people. You will find tutorials and a great mix of fun challenges to expand your scrapbooking skills.

Q – What’s the subject of the scrapbook that you are working on right now?

A – I am always working on several at the same time. I want to make each of my kids a scrapbook of their lives and their children’s lives. I especially like working on layouts with the grandchildren.

Q – How would you describe your scrapbooking style?

A – I am always changing my style. For example, right now I like working with blending and grunge. I also like playing with photo effects. Whatever catches my eye I do, so I can’t say I have a certain style.

Thanks for sharing, Paula!

Some of Paula’s favorite layouts:

Phenomenal Flowers!

Don’t these layouts just take your breath away? Seems that our dear friend omajo is not only a great scrapper, but a talented maker of floral arrangements as well! We fell in love with these stunning wedding floral arrangements.Thanks for sharing, omajo!

The Groove says: Absolutely amazing!

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge!

– Michelle McCoy’s Scrappy Kids kit – the inspiration for her freebie! Read more details below…

The “Freebie” Part!

Michelle McCoy has generously supplied a freebie mini-kit and freebie template (based on her adorable Scrappy Kids kit) to all our Groove readers. You’ll find it attached to our The Groove Monthly Freebie and Challenge thread.

Here’s how Michelle describes her kit:

I started putting this kit together to make layouts of my nephew…One thing led to the next, and I ended up with this cute theme instead. The colorful papers and spunky elements work great together for any child’s page.

The “Challenge” Part!

Here’s Michelle’s fun challenge (using the freebie mini-kit and template found here):

Since the Groove’s Theme this month is Crafts and Hobbies, use my free mini kit to whip together a layout of your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc…doing some type of craft or hobby. You must use pieces from my freebie.

Fun Freebie Rules:
You can only use the mini kit and add one embellishment or paper of your own (Changing the colors is ok)
You can only use one photo.
You can add journaling.
You have to make your layout(s) using my mask/template…Adding things to it is ok…(Look at my example below)
Most important, have fun!!!! I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with…((HUGS))

Inspiration using freebie template and freebie mini-kit

The Groove says: Thanks, Michelle! And have fun everyone. Remember that EVERYONE gets the freebies, and one participant in the challenge will be picked at random to receive a free Scrapbook MAX! mousepad!

Discount Coupon For
August 2008 “Featured Kits”

Love Michelle’s freebie mini-kit? Looking for more?

This month, when you purchase the full Scrappy Kids kit, or any of Michelles’s four Featured Kits (all pictured below), you’ll receive a discount for 10% off! Simply add any of the four Featured Kits to your cart until August 31, 2008, and type in the coupon code AUG-MMC to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code AUG-MMC exactly as shown).

Offer is good on new orders in the Featured Kits category only, until August 31, 2008. Coupon code must be used at the time of purchase and must be typed in exactly as shown. Cannot be combined with other discounts or offers.

All Aboard!

The “Granny Express” is now leaving the station! We were delighted with these whimsical layouts featuring (yet another) hidden talent by Granny – building HO trains!

The Groove: Granny, you never cease to amaze us!

Booster Pack Store:

New Releases

Have you been shopping lately? Dozens of new kits are added to the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store each month. Be sure to stop by and check out our awesome selection of embellishment kits and template sets, professionally-designed to work with Scrapbook MAX!.

Below is a small sample of some of new kits recently added to the store by various designers.

Crystal Longbrake – Beautiful Kit

Kristi Cakebread – Totally Girl Kit

Steve Russell – Desert Sage Kit

Kathy Waddell – Candy Jelly Beans Kit

Wendy Gibson – Build a Cupcake Kit

Look for our BACK TO SCHOOL issue of The Groove next month (release date September 1, 2008).

Not yet signed up for The Groove? Sign up for free today, and get a link to The Groove delivered to your inbox each month. Inspiration, freebies, challenges, scrapper profiles and more await!

The Groove July 2008

July 1, 2008 By karin

A beautiful layout featuring two Scrapbook MAX! community members (Evee and Carena) who met in person. We love how Scrapbook MAX! has been a part of people coming together!

– layout by Carena

In The Groove

Do you remember your very first friend? I made my first school friend on the very first day of school. We came to class with the same lunchbox, and of course at lunch time, each took the wrong one to our desks. Soon after we had figured out what had happened, we were sitting together sharing cookies and deciding what to play at recess. The friendship lasted throughout our school days, as we grew from shy little girls with the wrong lunch boxes, to young women sharing our hopes and dreams.

In this issue of The Groove, we’re celebrating friendships by featuring layouts that pay tribute to friends. Some are full of fun, some full of grace. Some full of style, some full of humour – just like our friends! We’re especially excited to bring to you the special story of OnieRN and MaggieMae, two Scrapbook MAX!-ers who, in traveling the country, decided to meet in person. Below, they tell us all about it!

Also below, find an amazing freebie and fun challenge by Donna Thomas. Have fun, reflect on friendships, and get into The Groove!

– Karin, co-editor of The Groove

Personal Challenge: Take a look at the layouts below for inspiration. Then, make and share a friendship layout of a friend who’s on your mind! Remember, Scrapbook MAX! makes it easy to share – you can print, email, burn to a CD, and more.

Celebrate the lighter side of friendship!

– layout by scrappyaggie48

makeyesup-My Best Friend Layout

– layout by makeyesup

Our friends have seen us through it all – including the times when we let loose!

We love the free-spirited photo and sassy elements chosen by scrappyaggie48 in her fun friend layout. Woo-hoo!

We can also relate to the perfect, light-hearted caption chosen by makeyesup. Thank goodness we trust our friends – the stories they could tell…

Bright Idea: Show a friend how much you care by making them a fun layout with a favorite picture, cute embellishments, and a witty caption. Then email your page to them directly from Scrapbook MAX! by choosing File > Email. It’s sure to brighten their day!

Friends Throughout The Years

– layout by fourfoxes

– layout by sacannon

Photos of friends are dear to our hearts. Even more so when you do something special with them, like making a layout to commemorate a moment or a special time together.

You can either choose the photos you’ve just snapped, like fourfoxes has done in her lovely friendship layout. Don’t you just love the close-up photo contrasting with the photo of the girls walking off together in the distance? Lovely!

Or, choose photos that you’ve had for a while. You can scan your cherished photographs, and use them in Scrapbook MAX! to preserve them for many more years to come! We love sacannon’s knack for using black and white photos with vintage-themed elements. Classy, sentimental, and special!

Bright Idea: Why not make a small album showcasing a friendship “through the years”? Create a series of layouts at a small size, such as 4 x 6 (Choose Page> Settings> Size to alter the size pf pages in Scrapbook MAX!). Begin with a layout featuring photos from the earliest stages of your friendship until the present. Then, print out two copies by choosing File > Print in Scrapbook MAX!, and insert in two 4 x 6 photo albums – a great gift for yourself and a friend, and perfect for toting in a purse!

Rhapsody in Blue

– layout by Marion

– layout by pkdoll

These two blue-toned layouts certainly caught our eye! The first by Marion shows how this traditional “boy color” does justice to a father/son layout. What a great mix of denim blue with leathery brown tones!

The second layout by pkdoll shows us, on the other hand, that blue isn’t for “boys only”. The muted blue shades are soft soothing, and match the philosophical tone of Aristotle’s quote: “What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies”

An amazing description that captures the feeling we have about our most amazing friendships!

Bright Idea: Does your friend have a birthday coming up? Why not make a personalized birthday card using a photo of the two of you to celebrate? Print it out or email it to say “Happy Birthday!”. Your layout can also be the birthday gift itself! Print (File > Print) at a size for which it is easy to find a great frame, such as 5 x 7 or 8 x 10 (Choose Page> Settings> Size to alter the size pf pages in Scrapbook MAX!). Insert into a special frame, and voila!

Scrapbook MAX! Friends Meet in Person!

Layouts by MaggieMae and OnieRN commemorating their meeting in person.

Read on to hear more about how these two lovely ladies who met online in the Scrapbook MAX! online community met in person, and put “real faces” to “cyber screen names”!

OnieRN and MaggieMae are familiar names in the Scrapbook MAX! forums, sharing layouts, digital scrapbooking advice, and friendship with others. When the two realized that they would be in the same city, they decided to meet in person. The story of their meeting follows below. We’re delighted how Scrapbook MAX! has played a role in bringing people together!

How did you get involved in the Scrapbook MAX! Online Community?

OnieRN: I was googling for digital scrapbooking tips, after purchasing another program at an Electronics Store. I was having a hard time with the other program, when Scrapbook MAX! showed up in the google. I downloaded the trial version and was hooked within a couple days. It was so easy to use!

MaggieMae: I got involved in the scrapbooking community here shortly after I found the program in May 2006. It was my first forum and first digital scrapbooking (experience). It’s been such a great learning experience!

How did you two decide to meet?

OnieRN: I was driving through Tucson, Arizona to visit my parents in Mesa, AZ. I contacted Julie (MaggieMae) and to see if she wanted to meet, as I drove through town. The timing was perfect, as my parents were in Tuscon at the time, doing some mission work. The two of us had been communicating for nearly a year, when we arranged to meet. Julie and her husband had 2 homes and spent the winter in Tuscon, so it was perfect timing.

When and where did you meet?

MaggieMae: We met at an I-Hop right off I-10 because it was easy to find! We had lunch and talked about just about everything. My DH Ron was there and Onie’s son Josh was there, too.

What sort of things did you chat about? Anything particularly funny or surprising that you would like to share?

OnieRN: We were only together for a few hours, but we chatted about everything from our kids to our grandkids. We also talked about some of the other (Scrapbook MAX!) members and how wonderful it would be to meet them too. Julie’s husband is the picture taker, so Ron was snapping pictures.

MaggieMae: Onie and I talked a lot about digital scrapbooking and computers – I think we bored Ron and Josh! LOL We also talked about how much all of us know about one another through our scrapbooking.

What was the best part of meeting your fellow Scrapbook MAX!-er?

OnieRN: It was wonderful to have a real face and voice behind the screen name (MaggieMae). I realized that we had so much in common and we had a lot of laughter between us. The reality that there is a real person on the other end is the best!

MaggieMae:The best part was actually seeing that we were real – not just cyber people!! It was so much fun to see each other in person and recognize each other from pictures and realize that we knew each other so well!

What else would you like to share with us about your meeting?

OnieRN: I believe that Julie and I were the first to meet of the group. Everyone knew we were meeting and they were as excited for us as we were. Our meeting involved the two of us, Julie’s husband Ron, My son Josh and my parents. We talked and talked and talked! The nice waitress kept coming by and refilling our glasses for several hours.

MaggieMae: There really wasn’t a best part about the meeting – we enjoyed it from start to finish.

Do you still keep in touch?

OnieRN: We do stay in touch, and soon we will be living closer. I am hoping that we will be able to have many more opportunities to see each other.

MaggieMae: …soon we will be practically neighbors when Onie moves to Phoenix!

What is your favorite part about the Scrapbook MAX! community?

OnieRN: The closeness of the group. I have found this group of individuals to be loving and caring. We all support one another in good times and in bad times. We’ve had marriages, deaths, babies born, and sicknesses in our group. We started a buddy system, where we have exchanged personal contact information with a group of individuals. The system was started so that we could stay in touch, in the event someone “disappears” (from the forums). I have had many friends in my life time but I have never experienced anything like the love we all share with each other. We are a big family! Closer than most real families.

Our group is now talking about arranging a large meeting in the next year or so. We want to get as many of us together as possible. So, with any luck, we will be putting a cruise together.

MaggieMae: My favorite part about the SBM! community is the genuine friendship, warmth and caring we have for one another. We share our lives through our scrapbooking and in the forum.

Thanks OnieRN and MaggieMae for sharing your awesome story and lovely layouts!

Has anyone else out there met a fellow “Scrapbook MAX!-er”? We’d love to hear your story! Email us at [email protected] if you would like to participate in an interview. We may feature it in an upcoming issue of The Groove!

Put Your Stamp On It!

(Your “signature style” stamp, that is!)

– “signature” layout by mh51

– “signature” layout by eye

These two friendship layouts have the umistakeable “stamp” of their creators! mh51 has a knack for choosing delicate florals, and here she doesn’t disappoint. Great retro photos against an elegant backdrop. A perfect keepsake commemorating a special college friendship.

Eye displays her talent for bringing together a layout with an edgy, dreamy, fun quality – what a perfect backdrop for these two young friends!

We have featured the work of these two talented scrappers before in previous Scrapper Profiles, and are thrilled to do so again!

Bright Idea: What is your “stamp” – the kinds of elements and backgrounds you choose again and again? Make a friendship layout using your “signature style”. Then, publish as a screensaver to brighten your day by choosing File > Publish To > Screensaver. You can read more about publishing layouts as screensavers in Chapter 6 of our User’s Guide found under Help or at http://www.scrapbookmax.com/webhelp

Designer Friendships!

– tribute layout for Steve Russell, by Michelle McCoy

– tribute layout for Donna Thomas, by Fiona Storey

Michelle and Fiona, Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store designers, created fun friendship layouts in tribute to fellow designers (and friends). Take a look!

Bright Idea: Did you know that you can send a Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store Gift Certificate to a friend? Just go to the store’s home page, and choose Gift Certificates near the top of the screen. Your friend will love getting treated to kits and templates of their choice to use with Scrapbook MAX!.

The Monthly Freebie Challenge!

-sample for Donna’s “super challenge”. Details in the Challenges and Contest forum.

The “Freebie” Part!

Donna Thomas has generously supplied a freebie shapes mini-kit (the “Maxie Kit”) to all our Groove readers. You’ll find it attached to our The Groove Monthly Freebie and Challenge thread.

Here’s how Donna describes the Maxie Kit:

This kit is introducing blended photo add ons concept – for more information, (see The Groove Monthly Freebie and Challenge thread). I have two related items in the store: Photo Word Tags and Trendy Expressions Templates (pictured below) .The Trendy Expressions Templates use the Word Tags for backgrounds and coordinate well with any mixing and matching of the pages. These shapes will help you add more to your photos using family member word tags with the blending base.

The “Challenge” Part!

Donna has issued this challenge based on her freebie mini-kit:

Simple challenge: Use the shapes in this mini-kit to plop on your photos or papers and display them in the challenge thread!

FIND THE FREEBIE AND CHALLENGE IN THE “CHALLENGES AND CONTESTS” FORUM, AND GET SCRAPPIN’!

Looking for more fun? See Donna’s “super challenge” in this thread! – don’t worry! It’s “super fun”, not “super hard” – LOL!

PLUS – a lucky, random challenge participant will get an official Scrapbook MAX! mousepad.

Discount Coupon For
July 2008 “Featured Kits”

Love Donna’s freebie mini-kit? Looking for more?

This month, when you purchase the full Maximizers kit, or any of Donna’s four Featured Kits (all pictured below), you’ll receive a discount for 10% off! Simply add any of the four Featured Kits to your cart until July 31, 2008, and type in the coupon code JULY-DTH to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code JULY-DTH exactly as shown).

Offer is good on new orders in the Featured Kits category only, until July 31, 2008. Coupon code must be used at the time of purchase and must be typed in exactly as shown.

July 2008 Featured Kits

Trendy Kit

Photo Word Tags

Maximizers Torn Photo/Paper Scraps Set 1

Trendy Expressions Templates

Booster Pack Store:

New Releases

Below is a small sample of some of new kits recently added to the store by various designers.

Deanne Gow-Smith – Red Rover Kit

Kathie Woolery – Celebrate Freedom Kit

Carena Scott – Tom Boy Elements Kit

Fiona Storey – Violet Hill Kit

Look for a fun new issue of The Groove next month (release date August 1, 2008).

Not yet signed up for The Groove? Sign up for free today, and get a link to The Groove delivered to your inbox each month. Inspiration, freebies, challenges, scrapper profiles and more await!

The Groove April 2008

April 1, 2008 By karin

Baby Layout by Shelley C., Kansas

In The Groove

It’s spring – the season of new things! And what new thing is more special than “baby”! In this super special issue of The Groove, we’re celebrating layouts that put the focus on those beautiful, bouncing bundles of joy!

Speaking of “New” and speaking of “babies”, we are delighted to present the ALL-NEW Scrapbook MAX! Baby Edition.

You’re going to be amazed by the premium templates and incredible baby themed-kits that are included. Read below for more details about this exciting “new addtion” to the Scrapbook MAX! family!

Babies “Making Faces”

There is no better expression of pure joy and wonder than on a baby’s face!Here are some adorable layouts that show off those priceless grins. Get inspired!

Baby layouts (beginning top left) by Clara O.,TN, Julie Clark

Crystal Jozlin, Rochester MN and Carena

Debby Fuchs (a.k.a. fourfoxes)St. Clair Shores Michigan and scrappieaggie48

Digital Scrapbooking Tips

Groove Tip #1 : Scrapbook MAX! makes it easy to keep everyone informed about the new baby in your life. Simply scrap a “birth announcement” page using photos, baby elements and descriptive text, and email your good news to friends and family! It’s personalized, and quick and simple to send!

Groovy Tip #2 : Did you know that with Scrapbook MAX!, you can make a screensaver out of your baby layouts (or any layouts!)? Choose File > Publish To> Screensaver. What a great way to bring a little extra joy to your work day!

Scrapper Profile

O2BNGdHope a.k.a Melanie

$Melanie - \$ $Melanie - \$

Some of Melanie’s favorite layouts

Q – If we asked your friends to describe you, what would they say?
A – My friends would probably say “A quiet, responsible individual, too easily taken advantage of, that really needs to get a life of her own but is totally devoted to her grandchildren and so takes care of them while life passes her by.” I might agree with part of that; the part that says I’m totally devoted to my grandchildren.

Q – How did you get involved with digital scrapbooking?
A – When my dad was still alive, he wanted to preserve all the old stories his brothers and sisters had told him over the years. Being what he called a 2nd generation baby, his siblings were all much older than he was. His oldest brother actually taught Dad in school. But Dad had waited too long and his brothers were developing Alzheimers by the time he tried to record the stories. After my Dad died having Alzheimers, too, I wanted to preserve those same family stories that he loved so the next generations could get a better sense of who these ancestors were. I created a traditional scrapbook with all the family stories I could collect from cousins but it was so very expensive that I NEVER planned to do one again. Then, one of the sites that I had ordered heritage papers from put a column on her website about Scrapbook MAX! & she recommended it so highly that I jumped right in and ordered it. I’ve never been sorry & I’ve gained a new family in the online community. Everyone there is so very helpful and I’ve learned so much from them.

Q – Besides scrapbooking, what do you do for fun?
A – Is there something fun besides scrapbooking? Hmmmm…….well…..I used to enjoy reading romances and ghost stories as a way to leave my troubles behind. I could live (for a short time) in a fantasy world where the troubles of life always end in happily ever after and the girl being swept into the arms of tall, dark and “perfect”.

Q – Who are the most special people in your life.Why?
A – I have a lot of special people in my life. I consider my extended family (cousins, aunts, etc) to be special to me. We’re very close. My siblings and their families are Extra special and of course my Mom tops the list. Even my new SBM family is special to me. I feel so much for all of you here that my heart just aches. But the MOST special people are my 5 grandbabies.

Q – Where do you find inspiration for your layouts?
A – Ha Ha! I’m still new at this so I can get inspired just by something Granny says in a thread in the online community! But mostly from the galleries. I’ll see a particular layout or embellishment that will strike a chord in my memory and I’ll think, “Boy! I could use that with such and such picture” & I go from there. Sometimes it’s the picture itself. I’ll bring a special photo in first and then just start adding things around it.

Q – Do you have a signature color scheme or type of embellishment that you love to use?
A – I would have to say my favorite colors and embellishments would be anything considered “Heritage”. Being the family genealogist, I love finding papers and embies I can use with my ancestors’ pictures. I also adore Deanne Gow-Smith’s style. I’ve done several of her Victorian Series but I also use a lot of her flowered templates. Their realistic & almost dreamy quality appeal to the woman in me.

Q – What is your next scrapbook project?
A – I have several scrapbooks going at the same time…I HAVE just started a Book About Me. Baby photos, how I got my name, what love means to me, these are the beginning of a scrapbook to be left to my grandchildren that would explain a little about who I am and what things I found important. Maybe some day one of them will become the family genealogist in my place and be excited to sit down and look through this Book About Me.

Q- If you could be a celebrity for one day, who would you be and why?
A – Hidden behind the anonymity of this computer screen, you wouldn’t know this about me but……I blush! Profusely. I was once willed a hot pink “Blush Towel” in high school because my blushing was so famous. I had to walk to the front of the auditorium, in front of 700 people, to get it. It was not a pretty sight. So, in the literal sense, fame would not suit me. But if I could be any celebrity, I think I’d want to be Barbara Walters. I love to listen to stories and she’s heard a lot of stories from a lot of interesting people. I personally would be too shy to ask them any questions but if I were her, I’d know exactly what to ask to get the most interesting story. And then I’d want to scrap it.

…more of Melanie’s favorites!

Annoucing the arrival of

Scrapbook MAX! Baby Edition

It’s here! Scrapbook MAX! announces the availability of Scrapbook MAX! Baby Edition! Packed with GORGEOUS baby-themed templates and AMAZING baby embellishment kits, this is the perfect tool for turning all those digital baby photos into scrapbooks that will quickly become cherished family heirlooms.

You’re going to be thrilled with all the extraordinary baby content included, professionally designed by various designers who contribute to the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store. No matter what sort of baby scrapbook you have in mind, you’re sure to find a theme that fits your style: classic, contemporary, feminine, masculine, bold, pastel, cute, funky….it’s all there!

Scrapbook MAX! Baby Edition is an incredible value at $39.95 plus shipping and handling. (All told, it has a total value of over $250!).Buy Scrapbook MAX! Baby Edition today and complete your Scrapbook MAX! collection.

A GROOVY DISCOUNT FOR GROOVE READERS!

If you buy Scrapbook MAX! Baby Edition between April 1 and April 30, 2008, you can receive 10% off your purchase! Simply type in the code GROOVEBABY at checkout.

Applies to new purchases only. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Coupon code GROOVEBABY must be typed in at the time of purchase. Coupon expires April 30, 2008.

The Monthly Freebie Challenge!

Get in on the fun of our Monthly Freebie Challenge! Here’s how it works:

The “Freebie” Part!

Fiona Storey has generously supplied a freebie mini-kit to all our Groove readers based on her full kit called “Cranberry Rose” – “…an elegant kit with lots of interesting shapes and frames, plenty of journal boxes that can double up as photo mats, this kit can be used for any occasion. the name does not quite reflect the colour but more the cranberry colour used in spode chinaware.”

The “Challenge” Part!

Fiona has issued this challenge based on her freebie mini-kit:

“Create a layout using the mini kit using only 1 photo and 1 Quote – see if you can use all the mini kit items – recolour a little if you wish.”

FIND THE FREEBIE AND CHALLENGE IN THE “CHALLENGES AND CONTESTS” FORUM, AND GET SCRAPPIN’!

PLUS – three lucky, random challenge participants will get an official Scrapbook MAX! mousepad.

Discount Coupon For

April 2008 “Featured Kits”

Love Fiona’s freebie mini-kit? Looking for more?

This month, when you purchase the full Cranberry Rose kit, or any of Fiona’s four Featured Kits (all pictured below), you’ll receive a discount for 10% off! Simply add any of the four Featured Kits to your cart until April 30, 2008, and type in the coupon code APRIL-FST to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code APRIL-FST exactly as shown).

Offer is good on new orders in the Featured Kits category only, until April 30, 2008. Coupon code must be used at the time of purchase and must be typed in exactly as shown.

Featured Kits for April 2008

Cranberry Rose

Days to Remember

$Fiona Storey - Olivia\$

Delightful Denim

Olivia’s Dreams

Here’s how Fiona describes her design style:

“I would describe my design style as opulent & ever changing. I love lace, swirls, ribbons, bows, anything girlie and a little over stated really.My style is forever developing as I have a great thirst for knowledge so constantly learning new ways to design. As soon as I have mastered a new technique it appears in my next kit.”

Thanks for the freebie, featured kits, and fun challenge, Fiona!

Creative Genius

Make Baby Shower Invitations with Scrapbook MAX! Baby Edition!

Template, papers and elements all from Scrapbook MAX! Baby Edition

Scrapbook MAX! Baby Edition comes with the perfect elements for creating gorgeous baby shower invitations! What could be more personal than an invitation you create yourself? And the best part? You can either print them to send in the mail, or email them to invited guests as an easy (and more cost effective!) alternative.

This invitation was made as a 4 x 6 page and looks great printed out on glossy photo 4 x 6 paper – slip it in an envelope, and you’re done! Of course, you can also email a Scrapbook MAX! invitation to your guests.

Inspirations

Nighty-night! Isn’t it great that we can capture these moments with a camera? Making a layout takes it to that “next level” – you get to create a true keepsake that really tells a story. Won’t it be wonderful to show your grown up child a “snapshot” from his or her younger years?

Sleepy baby layouts by LSignal and AmeliasMuma

Booster Pack Store:

New Releases

Below is a small sample of some of new kits recently added to the store by various designers.

Kristi Cakebread – Boys Toys

Julie Clark – Julie’s Spring Fling Kit

$Julie Clark - Julie\$

Kathy Waddell – Heirloom Keepsake Heritage Add-On 1 Kit

Christine Smith – Garden Glory Template

Donna Thomas – Flourishing Frills Set #1

Siobhan Kite – Enchanted

The Groove Wants YOU!

Have a Lois Lane complex? Put it to use by contributing to The Groove! We’re always looking for fresh ideas to make The Groove fun and exciting – just like our readers! Tips, musings, inspirations, ingenious scrapbook ideas – if you’ve got ‘em, we’d love to read ‘em! Email The Groove your bright ideas today! Contact us at [email protected]

Next Month in The Groove

We’re celebrating April Fool’s Day…in MAY! Get ready for some fun!

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of Possibilities!

Mini-Tutorial #2:

Colorize An Embellishment!

NEW in Scrapbook MAX 2.0:

Color Picker “Eye-Dropper” Tool!

The Groove’s Monthly Freebie Challenge!

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October 2009 “Featured Kits”

Shape UP!

Mini-Tutorial #3: Invert a Shape!

In the Groove

A Stitch in Time

Keeping Organized, and Keeping Memories

A Crafty Freebie For You!

Scrapper Profile

Phenomenal Flowers!

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge!

The “Freebie” Part!

The “Challenge” Part!

Discount Coupon For August 2008 “Featured Kits”

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In The Groove

Celebrate the lighter side of friendship!

Friends Throughout The Years

Rhapsody in Blue

Scrapbook MAX! Friends Meet in Person!

Put Your Stamp On It!

Designer Friendships!

The Monthly Freebie Challenge!

The “Freebie” Part!

The “Challenge” Part!

Discount Coupon For July 2008 “Featured Kits”

July 2008 Featured Kits

Booster Pack Store:

New Releases

In The Groove

Babies “Making Faces”

Digital Scrapbooking Tips

Scrapper Profile

Annoucing the arrival of

Scrapbook MAX! Baby Edition

The Monthly Freebie Challenge!

Discount Coupon For

April 2008 “Featured Kits”

Featured Kits for April 2008

Creative Genius

Inspirations

Booster Pack Store:

New Releases

The Groove Wants YOU!

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