Scrapbook MAX!

Scrapbooking Software for Real Life

digital kit discount coupon

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 February 2012

By

Valentine Layout

In the Groove

February is the month of love, romance and sharing love-ly pages with friends! We have a jam-packed issue for you this month with gorgeous layouts, a freebie challenge, the chance to get a custom-made designer kit, and the latest scrapbook news!

Enjoy the “Valentine’s” edition of The Groove, starting with SBM Diane’s gorgeous layout above – recently a “Layout of the Day” featured on our new official Scrapbook MAX! Facebook Page (more details below)!

**NEW**Visit our Scrapbook MAX! Facebook Page

Come visit our brand new Scrapbook MAX! Facebook Page. There are lots of reasons to stop by, including our Tip of the Day, Designer Kit of the Day, and our Featured Layout of the Day selected from our gallery (it just might be yours!). We also keep you up to date with the latest scrapbooking news and kits.

There’s lots of fun already and we’re just getting started – lots more to come! So stop by our page, leave us a comment, tell your friends, “like” us, and get in on the fun!

The Groove Freebie Challenge

Michelle McCoy - Groove Freebie

This month, designer Michelle McCoy is challenging you to make lovely valentine-inspired pages with her adorable freebie mini-kit, and practice your “colorization” skills using the tools in Scrapbook MAX!2.0.

Visit the challenge thread in the Challenge and Contests Forum to find all the details and the cute freebie kit.

February 2012 Featured Kits

Are you loving Michelle McCoy’s Groove Challenge Freebie? Looking for kits with Michelle’s signature style? Here’s a few for your list, all found in our Featured Content section of the store (and great for Valentine’s layouts)! You can save 10% off by adding any of these four featured kits to your cart and typing in the coupon code FEB-GROOVE at checkout. Offer is valid on new orders only from the Featured Content section – expires February 29, 2012.

Beary Love
Love Me
Love U Fuzzy
Paris Cafe
New Kits Inspired by Scrapbook MAX! Scrapper

Scrapbook MAX! user Linda DuBois shared this wonderful story with us about how a search for a particular kit inspired a Scrapbook MAX! designer’s special creations…

Mount Rushmore

I have the most wonderful experience with Scrapbook MAX! that I would like to share with you. My name is Linda DuBois and I am very, very, new to digital scrapbooking. I am so new that I easily become overwhelmed looking for the right papers and embellishments to create my pages with. I have Photoshop Elements, and can use it, but stumbled across Scrapbook MAX! and immediately purchased it, and thus started my love for Scrapbook MAX! and their kits and templates.

My husband and I are retired, and this past fall, we finally were able to take one of our dream vacations in our motor home. We live in PA and had certain places in the west that we have wanted to visit most of our lives. So, our new adventure began and my desire to scrapbook our adventure became a dream. I wasn’t making much progress with my pages, even with the beautiful kits available for Scrapbook MAX!, and the ability to even use other papers and embellishments from other sources. It just wasn’t coming together.

I asked Scrapbook MAX! designer Deanne Gow-Smith if I could send her pictures of my pages and tell her what I didn’t like.This was the start of a very endearing dialogue between Deanne and I. Before I knew it, Deanne was busy creating three very custom and special kits just for my scrapbooking needs. I do not know how, but Deanne somehow knew exactly the look that I was trying to achieve. Her new kits for Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, and Yosemite are absolutely stunning, and are exactly what I wanted for my pages. What a wonderful way to scrapbook. If you need something, these ladies will create it just for you! Thanks Deanne for the wonderful pages, and thank you Deanne and Scrapbook Max for making my job documenting this wonderful trip so easy.

– Linda Dubois

What a great story, Linda! Thank you for sharing it with us, and for sharing your lovely layouts (below). It sounds like you had a true holiday adventure, and a great experience remembering it through your pages!

Yellowstone Hot Springs
Yellowstone Cave
Deanne Wants to Design A Theme Based on Your Ideas!

From Deanne Gow-Smith:

I recently had the experience of custom designing three kits for a Scrapbook MAX! Community Member, Linda. Linda had been a a trip to Yosemite, Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore and had photos to make a memorable scrapbook but needed the KITS.

I enjoyed making them so much with all her input for desired elements that I wondered if there are many other scrapbookers who would like a KIT made especially for them with a theme maybe they have been unable to find anywhere. So, I came up with this idea:

If you have an idea for a kit that you would like me to consider designing, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] this month (February 2012) with your request for a specific KIT theme. Add lots of details of what you would like to see in it: colours, type of embellishments, wordart, etc. I will select one of suggestions I receive, and create a custom designed KIT and a TEMPLATE for the winner.

Just for participating and emailing me your request and suggestions, you will receive 1 x FREE KIT valued around $5.00.

Note: THE WINNER of the custom-designed kit is invited to post a layout that they make with this kit in the Scrapbook MAX! gallery. We’d love to feature it and the story behind your request in an upcoming issue of The Groove!

Travel Kits Deanne designed for Linda:

Yellowstone

Find Yellowstone in the store here.

Yosemite

Find Yosemite in the store here.

February 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:

February Challenge Schedule

February 1-29, 2012 – The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge (Michelle McCoy)

February 1-29, 2012 – Designer Monthly Challenge – January 2012 (KapiColors)

February 15-29, 2012 – Mid-Month Challenge (Deanne Gow-Smith – approximate start date is the 15th)

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here’s a great idea (and awesome photo and layout) from lgenosky. Why not make personalized Valentine’s cards with your kids pics right on them? Smaller sizes are the perfect thing to print out and distribute to family, school friends, etc.! Wishes that are truly from the heart!

Valentine Card

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

The Groove August 2011

By

Kit by Deanne Gow-Smith

In the Groove

Read on to learn how you can get over $100 worth of summer-themed digital scrapbooking content for only $14.95!! Throughout the issue, we showcase a small sample of all the incredible items included in this amazing new pack. We also share the 3 winner of last month’s “Scrap Your Hometown” challenge, and a summer-y freebie and challenge from designer Katie Castillo. You’ll also find a discount offer on some of Katie’s bold and crisp designs. Don’t miss this issue!

NEW! Summer Vacation “Mega” Expansion Pack

Introducing the NEW! Summer Vacation Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. This bold, bright collection is chock-full of summer-themed digital scrapbooking kits and coordinating templates. Sold separately, you would pay over $100 for everything included. But during the month of August 2011, you can get it for the special introductory price of only $14.95 US by using the link below!

Click here to learn more, and to find the Buy Now button to get this fantastic price!

Summer Vacation includes ten premium digital scrapbooking kits and coordinating template sets. It’s AWESOME for scrapping all of summer’s many activities – camping, bbq’s, block parties, day at the beach, or afternoons lounging in the backyard! Summer comes once a year, but you’ll be scrapping sunshine all year long with this great pack! Offer ends August 31, 2011 – so be sure to hurry!

Special introductory pricing ends August 31, 2011. Use the special link to get this discount. Applies to new orders only. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers. Summer Vacation requires Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 software.

Get in the Swim of Things!

Check out these kits included in the new Summer Vacation Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0! “In the Summer Time” (Deanne Gow-Smith) is set on the beach, and combines ocean blues and sunny yellows to show off all your beach pics! “Splish Splash” (Michelle McCoy) is for when you and the family spend the day cooling off in the pool – whether in-ground or inflatable! Remember – all the kits in this pack come with coordinating, full-editable templates!

In The Summer Time
Splish Splash
The Great Outdoors

Summer days mean heading outdoors, whether that means into the wild, or into your backyard! Scrap fishing trips and lakeside adventures with Steve Russell’s “Fishing” kit. Head out for a picnic with Fiona Storey’s colorful “Al Fresco” Kit (featuring picnic scenes for beach, park, bbq and more!).

Fishing
Al Fresco

* * * *

The Groove August 2011 Freebie Challenge
Freebie Mini-Kit

Each month, a designer offers a great freebie mini-kit and issues a challenge. All you need to do is download the freebie, create a layout that steps up to the challenge, upload it to the Groove challenge category in the gallery, and post a link to your layout in a reply to the challenge thread!

This month, Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Katie Castillo is offering you an utterly adorable and “juicy” freebie kit and challenging you to work on a summer theme. For all of the details please check out the August 2011 freebie challenge thread here.

August 2011 Featured Kits

Looking for kits with Katie’s signature style? Here’s a few for your list, all found in our Featured Content section of the store! You can save 10% off these four featured kits by typing in the coupon code KCS-AUG at checkout.

YoHo Templates
Serenity Templates
YoHo Kit
YoHo Extra Alphas

* * * *

Below are even MORE kits sets found in the new Summer Vacation Expansion Pack! (Click here to learn more about the pack and get an awesome discount price!)

Vacations and “Stay”- Cations!

Are you packing up the car and heading cross-country? Or is your summer all about tending your own garden paradise? Whichever way you choose to enjoy summer, we’ve got the perfect kit for scrapping your summer pics. Kit sets below by Michelle McCoy and Fiona Storey

Everything Packed
Cottage Garden
Congrats to Challenge Winners!

Last month, The Groove challenged you to create a layout celebrating your home town (or country!). We saw some fantastic layouts – thanks to all who participated! Check out all the fabulous entries here.

Three participants were chosen at random, and will receive the Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 Expansion Pack of their choice (woo-hoo!). Here are their “hometown pride” layouts!

by SBM Diane
By Pixy Girl
by alohagrrl

Look for next month’s issue of The Groove on September 1, 2011!

The Groove June 2011

By

Party by Michelle McCoy

In the Groove

Read on to learn how you can get over $100 worth of new birthday-themed digital scrapbooking content for only $14.95!! Throughout the issue, we showcase just a taste of all the incredible items included in this amazing new pack. Plus, learn about a freebie you can get just by signing up for the Scrapbook MAX! community, and a free software update for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 owners. We’ve also got a stunning freebie and challenge from designer Deanne Gow-Smith, and a fabulous offer on some of her elegant and creative designs. Don’t miss this issue!

NEW! Birthday Bash “Mega” Expansion Pack

Introducing the NEW! Birthday Bash Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. This fun, festive collection is absolutely bursting with birthday-themed digital scrapbooking kits and coordinating templates. Sold separately, you would pay over $100 for everything included. But during the month of June 2011, you can get it for the special introductory price of only $14.95 US by using the link below!

Click here to learn more, and to find the Buy Now button to get this fantastic price!

Birthday Bash includes ten premium digital scrapbooking kits and coordinating template sets. We’ve even included a special bonus embellishment set with over 65 bonus birthday items! . It’s perfect for scrapping anyone’s birthday, from 0-100! (And as Groove readers, you’re the first to hear!). If you know someone with a birthday 🙂 – you’re going to want this pack! Offer ends June 30, 2011 – so be sure to hurry!

Special introductory pricing ends June 30, 2011. Use the special link to get this discount. Applies to new orders only. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers. Birthday Bash requires Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 software.

Free Software Update Available for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 Owners

For all those who own Scrapbook MAX! 2.0, we have just released a new free update that includes performance enhancements and a couple of fixes for minor bugs. Be sure to update your software by going to Help > Check For Update in the Scrapbook MAX! menu, and follow the prompts to get the patch.

Get into the Party Spirit

Check out these kits included in the new Birthday Bash Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0, and celebrate! Party (Michelle McCoy) is chock full of colorful papers and embies to make your birthday pages shine, and Numbers Up (Fiona Storey) includes super-cool number frames that you can fill with a “collage” of photos. Not only that, kits in this pack come with coordinating templates – “SURPRISE”!

Party
Numbers Up
It’s His Birthday!

Looking for kits and templates to scrap his birthday? Then look no further than Birthday Bash! With great content for male birthdays-whether he’s a brand new baby, little boy, teen, or forever young grandfather-you’ll find fantastic items to scrap with! These kits by Michelle McCoy and Fiona Storey.

His Day
Valiant Revelry

* * * *

The Groove June 2011 Freebie Challenge
Freebie Mini-Kit

Each month, a designer offers a great freebie mini-kit and issues a challenge. All you need to do is download the freebie, create a layout that steps up to the challenge, upload it to the Groove challenge category in the gallery, and post a link to your layout in a reply to the challenge thread!

This month, Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Deanne Gow-Smith is offering you a stunning freebie kit and challenging you to work on Father’s Day Theme. For all of the details please check out the June 2011 freebie challenge thread here.

June 2011 Featured Kits

Looking for kits with Deanne’s signature elegance? Here’s a few for your list, all found in our Featured Content section of the store! You can save 10% off these four featured kits by typing in the coupon code DGO-JUNE at checkout.

Melted Butter
Men Only
Stuart Green Tartan
Books N Learning

* * * *

Below are even MORE kits sets found in the new Birthday Bash Expansion Pack! (Click here to learn more about the pack and get an awesome discount price!)

It’s Her Birthday!

Whether you are scrapping a page for your little fairy princess or your beloved great-grandmother, the kits and templates included in Birthday Bash have fantastic design inspiration! For instance, you’ll love Birthday Fairy by Siobhan Kite, and Beautiful Birthday by Vicki Pasterik!

Birthday Fairy
Beautiful Birthday
You’re Invited!

We know you’re going to fall head over heels for this Card making set by Diana Carmichael! Birthday Bash includes a template and coordinating kit for making printed birthday invitations, birthday cards, and thank you cards.Complete with instructions, fold lines, and inserts this will make your original card-making crafts a snap! not only that, the template pages are fully editable, so you can tweak, re-color, add and subtract and use is again and again!

Cards
The Trendy Set!

This is the ideal kit and template set for scrapping teen and pre-teen birthdays, with fresh colours, hip design and fun embellishments (by Diana Carmichael – find it in Birthday Bash).

My Day
Every Party Needs a “Goody Bag!”

The Birthday Bash Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 is jam-packed with 10 premium birthday-themed kits and coordinating templates. But we know that no party is complete without a grab bag, so we’ve included a BONUS EMBELLISHMENT PACK with over 65 EXTRA BIRTHDAY ITEMS!. Learn more about Birthday Bash today!

Grab Bag Extras

Find out what’s included in Birthday Bash and get a great discount price here!

A Freebie With a Birthday Spirit!
Birthday Forum Freebie

In the spirit of celebrating birthdays, Scrapbook MAX! is offering anyone who is signed up in the Scrapbook MAX! online community this terrific new freebie embellishment kit by designer Michelle McCoy. It will be emailed to you on your birthday if you have included your birthdate in your forum profile. If you haven’t already, sign up for the community today – and if you have, all you need to do is wait for your special day to roll around!

Happy Wishes to One And All!
Valiant Revelry by Fiona Storey

Look for next month’s issue of The Groove on July 1, 2011!

The Groove May 2011

By

Fresh Spring Clusters - Carena Scott

Find Carena’s kit here

HUGE SALE on Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates!

This month when you shop in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store, you can save a whopping 25% off your order! All you need to do is select at least $10 worth of kits, then type in the special 25% off coupon code below. (Read on in The Groove for a tantalizing ‘taste’ of the store’s amazing selection of digital products!). This is a terrific time to purchase those kits you’ve had your eye on for a while, and to stock up on amazing scrapbooking content for upcoming events and occasions!

HOW TO SAVE

To get 25% off, simply shop in the Scrapbook MAX! store and fill your cart with at least $10 worth of kits and templates. Then, type in the coupon code STOCKUP exactly as shown in the Coupon Code field before checkout. 25% will be subtracted from your total, and you’ll get dazzling kits at a spectacular price!

NOTE: This offer is only available in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store on purchases of $10 or more (offer cannot be used on Scrapbook MAX! software, Scrapbook MAX! Software Bundles, or Scrapbook MAX! Mega Expansion Packs). Coupon code STOCKUP must be used at the time of purchase and be typed in exactly as shown in the Coupon Code field. Offer expires May 31, 2011 and applies to new purchases only. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers.

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

Freebie Challenge - Michelle McCoy

Each month, a designer offers a great freebie mini-kit and issues a challenge. All you need to do is download the freebie, create a layout that steps up to the challenge, upload it to the Groove challenge category in the gallery, and post a link to your layout in a reply to the challenge thread!

This month, Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Michelle McCoy is offering you an absolutely amazing freebie kit and challenging you to work on Mother’s Day Theme. But there is an intriguing twist – Michelle will be sending you a secret bonus item to work with before the challenge actually beings. For all of the details please check out the May 2011 challenge thread here.

May 2011 Featured Kits

Looking for kits with Michelle’s signature style? Here’s a few for your list, all found in our Featured Content section of the store! Remember that you can save 25% off on orders of $10 or more when you shop in the store this month (details are above). It’s a great time to stock up on Michelle’s adorable designs!

Home Run Kit - Michelle McCoy
Fruity Pink Kit - Michelle McCoy
Summer Smiles II - Michelle McCoy
PlayTime Kit - Michelle McCoy
The Perfect Time To Stock Up on Fab Kits and Templates!

As scrappers, we know that every month of the year (make that every DAY of the year) offers an occasion to scrap. With this month’s amazing 25% off ‘STOCKUP’ SALE, now is the perfect time to gather the digital kits and templates you need to make your scrapbooks for the whole year round. Stock up for kits for Easter, Mother’s Day, summer holidays, Hallowe’en – even Christmas! – getting a great deal along the way. Below are just a few samples of the amazing items we have in the Scrapbook MAX! store. We have THOUSANDS of awesome kits and templates for endless scrapbooking fun!

Huntin' Eggs - Katie Castillo

Find this and other egg-cellent Easter kits to scrap your Easter memories!

4th of July - Monja Wessel

The fourth of July will be here before you know it! Find this and dozens of kits and templates for celebrating…

Melted Butter - Deanne Gow-Smith

Mmmmm…find this elegant template and many more that are ideal for scrapping gorgeous pages…

Raspberry Kit 2 - Siobhan Kite

If you’re looking for kits with a fresh and pretty feel, you’ll find this kit and more to suit your scrapbooking needs!

Naming Day Kit - Kirsten Smit

We have a kits for so many special occasions and events, you’re sure to find the perfect content for celebrating your special day. Find this naming day kit and others that will help you preserve your most cherished memories.

Look for next month’s issue of The Groove on June 1, 2011!

The Groove March 2011

By

Funny Guy

In the Groove

We’re putting the spotlight on “All Things Green And Groovy!”. All the featured layouts in this issue have more than just a hint of green (in honor of the month o’ shamrocks). Besides a similar color inspiration, these layouts capture someone or something that makes the heart sing. (We’ve started off with Michelle McCoy’s awesome and hilarious tribute to her son above!) Get inspired to scrap a fresh green layout in honor of someone or something that you love!

Below you’ll also find an amazing challenge and freebie by Scrapbook MAX! store designer Vicki Pasterik, plus a groovy discount to use on featured kits. Read on to recharge your digital scrapbooking know-how!

Dreamy Greens

We love the dreamy quality of these two layouts! The gorgeous black and white photo in QuinnsGM’s heartfelt layout captures the innocence of childhood. Grounding the wistful photo in neutral, moody greens gives the layout depth and character – creative and very sophisticated! In quite another way, mh51’s green layout wakes up our senses and makes us experience the wonder of stumbling upon a patch of wild garlic on a forest hike right along with her. So unusual and “wonder-full”!

Quinn
Wild Garlic

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

Challenge by Vicki Pasterik
March Challenge

Each month, a designer offers a great freebie mini-kit and issues a challenge based on that kit. All you need to do is download the freebie, create a layout that steps up to the challenge, upload it to the Groove challenge category in the gallery, and post a link to your layout in a reply to the challenge thread!

This month, Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Vicki Pasterik is asking you to think of the alphabet in a whole new way, using each letter to describe a character trait that you possess. Very creative and cool!

Here’s Vicki’s challenge:

“The freebie mini-kit is called, “The ABC’s of Me”. It includes a background paper, a frame, a title, a flower and a complete uppercase Alphabet that all match.

The challenge is to make a layout of yourself (or someone else) that includes a photo and one character attribute for each letter of the alphabet. I have included the sample I made of myself. (This is harder than you’d think. It took me longer to come up with the words to describe me than it did to scrap the layout! 🙂 ) ”

(Groove-y tip: Pressed for time? You can still be a part of the challenge! Instead of using the whole alphabet, use only the letters of your name or the name of the person you are scrapping and think of attributes for each of these letters.)

Challenge Sample

Vicki describes how she made the stunning sample layout above. (You can try these techniques if you wish, or layout your page using Vicki’s kit in a different way!) :

“There is one teal background paper in the kit. To get the look in my sample, I simply opened a paper sample and chose the white construction paper included with SBM. Then, I lowered the transparency to 30, sized it to an inch smaller than my background paper and centered it horizontally and vertically. I then added the teal background as a paper scrap and stretched it to a rectangle to divide the title from the rest of the page.

For the photo effect, I took a full color photo and duplicated it (Ctrl-C + Ctrl-V). The top photo I converted to grayscale. Then I lowered the transparency of the grayscale photo until I achieved the look I wanted. The easiest way to line up both photos is to align them both to the top and left side of your layout. Then group them into one element.”

March 2011 Featured Kits

Looking for kits with Vicki’s signature style? Here’s a few for your list, and a coupon to use, too! Below are March’s featured kits, all by Vicki Pasterik (ideal for spring layouts, and there’s one for your winter memories, too!).

Be sure to use the coupon code MAR-VIP to get 10% off any of the four featured kits. Simply add any of the Featured Content below to your cart in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store until March 31, 2011, and type in the coupon code MAR-VIP, to receive your 10% off discount.

(Applies to new orders only.)

Find these kits in the Featured Content section of the store!

Spring Beauty Template
Spring Beauty Kit
Baby Dear Vintage
Snow Angel
Go, Green!

Team colors are worth a thousand words and a thousand cheers! We love the sporty spirit of these two layouts, with team loyalty set off in vibrant greens. The first by makeyesup captures the excitement of a football match (known as soccer in some parts of the world). We love how the photo and embies bring us “right onto the pitch”! Next up is Marion and family, cheering on their fave football team. From those happy smiles, it looks like things turned out just as you all wished! 🙂

Game Day
Packer Backers
**NEW RELEASES!** – Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store

Great new kits are added to the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates 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! digital scrapbooking software.

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

Lil Cutiez-Siobhan Kite
JunkArt-Deanne Gow-Smith
Vintage Rose-Monja Wessel

Watch for the next issue of The Groove on April 1, 2011!