digital scrapbooking software

The Groove September 2012

September 1, 2012 By karin

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

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

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

DCS_WELCOME_FALL_PREVIEW — 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

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.

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

New Orleans – Amanda Wittenborn

By Frog Pond – Carena Scott

Goodbye – and Hello!

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 May 2012

May 1, 2012 By karin

In the Groove

In May, we celebrate spring, beauty, and of course Mother’s Day! We hope you enjoy this inspiring issue packed with gorgeous vintage layouts, Mother’s Day-themed freebies, awesome discounts, recent challenge winners, and more.

The beautiful layout above was shared by makeyesup in the Scrapbook MAX! Gallery – stunning!

Meet Scrapbook MAX! Designer Katherine a.k.a. MagicalReality Designs

MagicalReality-Designs-pic — Magical Reality Designs

I am Katherine aka MagicalReality Designs. I was born in Warsaw, Poland and moved to Canada at the age of 9. I live in Ontario with my hubby, two kids and a beautiful 1.5 years old German Shepherd named Codey. I have been a digital designer since 2007. I am in love with digital graphics, digital painting, and photography. My designs are known for a mix of magical and realistic elements – I guess that is where my designer name comes from. If I am not designing I enjoy doing hands-on crafts with my kids or anything outdoors, but I always have my camera with me! I also just realized that the first scrapbook software I ever bought was Scrapbook MAX!….haha…and never in my dreams did I think I would be selling my designs here. People always ask me how do you come up with the designs ideas? Honestly… I don’t know! I never know what I will create and usually I work on 3 or 4 different designs at once. I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about me, and please take advantage of my few favorite kits on sale (see below for details)!

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

Each month a designer shares a freebie with Groove Readers and challenges you do to something fun with it! Find Katherine’s “Mother and Child” freebie and motherhood-themed challenge here!

(Challenge participants will also find a special “bonus gift” from Katherine in the challenge thread in Mid-May – another great reason to take the challenge!)

Psst! Love the “Mother and Child” Freebie? Look for the full versions coming soon in Katherine’s category of the store!

Some of Katherine’s Favourite Designs – Save 10% this month!

Explore Katherine’s designs, and save on a few of her favorites! The four kits below are found in our Featured Content section of the store! You can save 10% off by adding any of these four featured kits to your cart and typing in the coupon code MAY-KAZ at checkout. Offer is valid on new orders only from the Featured Content section – expires May 31, 2012.

Spotlight on Challenge Winners

Well, everyone’s a winner just for joining a challenge! But we wanted to put the spotlight on two very special layouts from Deanne Gow-Smith’s recent mid-month challenges that sparkled with creativity!

March Mid-Month Challenge – Winning Layout by Cheesepiece
The Challenge: MAKE/SHAPE YOUR OWN EMBELLISHMENTS and MAKE YOUR OWN “BACKGROUND PAPER

From Donna a.k.a. “Cheesepiece”

“I am delighted, flattered and honoured to be chosen as the winner of Moonbeam’s Mid Month Challenge for March….I love joining in the Challenges, and learn so much from them. They have boosted my confidence greatly, not to mention the friends I have made in the Forum.

I am really pleased with how my LO turned out. I chose the shape first, tried out a few different ways to use it. As I played with the shape the idea for the page popped into my head. I messed around with colour and transparency, I used the same shape four times, inverting it and erasing parts of it. I chose my photo and added text. The butterfly was one shape used twice. I added shadow, duplicated it, re-coloured for the top of the butterfly. The result was very pleasing to me and so easy to create.

For all you ladies out there who have yet to join in a Challenge, I say go for it. You can learn so much and have fun at the same time.”

April Mid-Month Challenge – Winning Layout by SBM Diane
The Challenge: TURN THIS “BORING” KIT INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

From Diane a.k.a. “SBM Diane”

“Thank you for the challenge Deanne! Everyone did such a beautiful job with the layouts and colors that I had no idea what I was going to create. Then, our two year old decided to jump on my lap and take a nap and gave me my color choice. I had a tough time getting the caramel color to match, but I like how it turned out. ”

May 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:

May Challenge Schedule

May 1-31, 2012 – The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge (Katherine a.k.a. “Magical Reality Designs”)

May 1-31, 2012 – Designer Monthly Challenge (Fiona Storey)

May 15-31, 2012 – Mid-Month Challenge (Deanne Gow-Smith – approximate start date is the 15th)

A Family Story Goes On…

Last month, Kaye shared some stunning pages inspired by family photos she discovered in her parents’ photo collection. Here is another layout from this collection. Not only are the photos and layouts beautifully arranged, the journalling makes the page a true family keepsake. Get inspired to scrap your family’s story!

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

The Groove July 2011

July 1, 2011 By karin

stangergirls - 4th of July — 4th of July

In the Groove

Happy Canada Day and 4th of July, and a big hooray for wherever you call home! July is a month of fun and celebration, and we hope you’ll enjoy kicking it off with The Groove!

In this issue, you’ll find layouts celebrating the spirit of “home”. You’ll also be challenged to make a home-town pride layout of your own, and be eligible to win one of three Mega Expansion Packs for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0!

Read on for news on the latest digital scrapbooking kits, and for fun scrapbooking inspiration!

O, Canada!

Canada Day is celebrated on July 1. This year, Canada is 144 years young! Here are two gorgeous red-and-white layouts. ValerieElaine gets into the spirit with a fireworks display, and Marion displays gifts she received from Canadian friends made in our very own Scrapbook MAX! community – how cool is that?

4th of July – “Take Two!”

Happy 235, USA! Whether you’re celebrating with a town parade, a barbecue, or a gathering with family and friends, we hope you enjoy this special day! Does the layout below look familiar? Check out stangergirls’ 4th of July layout featured at the top of the newsletter and the second one below. She shows us how you can take the same favorite photo and use it in a completely different way, still getting spectacular results. It’s all about getting creative (and using a photo as many times as you want is the advantage of going digi!). Gorgeous!

Groove Layout Challenge – Spectacular Prizes!

July is a month of fun, celebrations and home-town pride! That’s why The Groove is challenging you to make a layout celebrating wherever it is you come from (Nanna Susie’s Parade layout above is great inspiration!)!

What makes your city, town or country special? Get creative, and make a layout to show off your special place. Then, post your layout in the Challenge Thread here (visit the thread for posting instructions).

Now here’s the super fun part – the names of three challenge participants will be drawn at random and each of these winners will get the Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 Mega Expansion Pack of their choice! (Please note that Mega Expansion Packs require Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 software to work). You heard right – you can win a Mega Expansion Pack just for participating in this fun challenge!

What’s a Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 Expansion Pack? So glad you asked! 🙂

An Expansion Pack is a set of awesome digital scrapbooking kits and coordinating templates pack made by some of the top designers in the industry, exclusively for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. We currently have 8 different packs available (and counting!), including themes such as Birthday, Christmas, Baby, Family Heritage, and more! Each pack comes with at least 10 premium digital scrapbooking kits and 10 premium templates. You get over $100 worth of items in each pack, for only $19.95 per pack!

Learn more about our Expansion Pack collection – collect them all today!

NEW RELEASES! – Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates!

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:

Get Siobahn’s Pansy Pink Template today!

Get Monja’s Tropical Island Kit today!

Get Carena’s Aussie Kit today!

Get Deanne’s Jaded Blue Kit today!

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

The Groove February 2011

February 1, 2011 By karin

In the Groove

Get inspired to scrap a Valentine for someone you love! Red is a great way to express your feelings (check out PaulaIN’s gorgeous layout above!), but as you’ll see below, you can also reach for other colours in the spectrum with dazzling results!

In this issue you’ll also find an absolutely gorgeous freebie and fun challenge from Michelle McCoy. If you’re looking for a way to get into the spirit of Valentine’s, this challenge is it!

Last but not least, we are offering an AMAZING DISCOUNT on the Forever Love Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 – and Groove Readers like you are the first to know about it! Packed with romantic templates and elegant embellishments, it’s the perfect pack for scrapbooking Valentine’s, wedding, anniversaries, and more – read on and SAVE!

Beyond Red and Pink

Here are a couple of layouts that show us not to shy away from color when scrapping tenderhearted layouts. Think spring bouquets and vibrant rainbows to express the wonder of love! The first “love”ly layout is by Gotart. While red anchors the layout, bursts of warm colors express the warmth of the heart. Love how the arrangement of the elements draws your eyes to the center. Fantastic!

This bold and beautiful layout by dillie1 stole our hearts! What a sweet picture of animals hanging out together in their special tent- tooooooo cute! Every pet lover out there is surely oooing and ahhing over this one. The bright colors add liveliness and fun, just like our pets do in our lives – nicely done!

BIG SALE: FOREVER LOVE EXPANSION PACK

It’s the month of romance, and what better way to celebrate than with a great deal on Scrapbook MAX!‘s most elegant, romantic expansion pack! This month, Forever Love for use with Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 can be yours for just $14.95. You save $5 off the already low price (see everything you get)!

Forever Love is a spectacular downloadable collection of 100+ unique, customizable wedding template pages, 570+ embellishments, 140+ backgrounds, 75 paper scraps and 18 photo shapes – and until February 28, 2011 you can get it all for only $14.95! But you must use this special link to get to save:

GET FOREVER LOVE TODAY!

Note: Valid on new orders only. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Prices are in US dollars and do not include any taxes or handling fees that may apply. The Forever Love Expansion Pack requires Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. Offer expires midnight, February 28, 2011.

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

The Freebie:

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 Michelle McCoy has shared a romantic mini-kit with you to scrap Valentines, love letters, and other matters of the heart!

Michelle’s Challenge:

“We are doing a “Double Vision ~ Love Letter” layout for this challenge…
Download my mini kit. All pieces come from both my “I Need u” Kits…Use at least 4 items from the mini to make your layout…Choose ONE photo to use, but we are going to use it twice in our layout….

Add the photo to your layout and make it big. Add some transparency to it. Then make your layout like usual adding the same photo again with no transparency added to it.

Then write a love letter to the person/people that are in the photo you are using…

*Here’s my example layout for an idea….*

Next, upload your layout to our gallery in theGroove Newsletter Challenges category, then post it here in this thread for us to see..It’s that time of month to share the love, so let’s see it!”

Find the freebie and challenge thread here!

February 2011 Featured Kits

Looking for kits with Michelle’s signature style? Here’s a few for your list, and a coupon to use, too! Below are February’s featured kits, all by Michelle McCoy (ideal for Valentine’s Day!).

Be sure to use the coupon code FEB-MMC to get 10% off any of the four featured kits. Simply add any of the Featured Kits below to your cart in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store until February 28, 2011, and type in the coupon code FEB-MMC, to receive your 10% off discount.

(Applies to new orders only)

Valentine-a-rama!

Looking for more Valentine’s kits and templates? Be sure to check out the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Kits and Templates Store! Browse the latest kits by your favorite designers, or search by key words like Valentines, love, romance, wedding, engagement, and more!

Crafty Wishes

Daydreamer’s layout, full of yummy delights and artistic creativity, is the perfect way to express our Valetine’s wish to all of you digi scrappers – may the month be filled with “sweet scrapbook inspiration”!

Look for next month’s issue on March 1, 2011!

The Groove January 2011

January 1, 2011 By karin

In the Groove

Happy New Year and Best wishes for 2011!

In this issue, we’re taking a look at lovely Christmas layouts that some of our community members have made using the brand new Christmas Wishes Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. (The first example is above by lindaathome, using the pack’s “Frosting” kit – isn’t it adorable?) Christmas Wishes is the perfect digital scrapbooking collection to help capture the holiday magic of your favorite photos. As Groove readers, you can take advantage of special introductory pricing, extended just for Scrapbook MAX!-ers like you! Read on for all the details.

You’ll also find an elegant challenge and freebie from designer Fiona Storey, and a great discount to use on her featured kits. Get into the Groove for an inspiring start to 2011!

Snow, Snow, Snow!

You know the Christmas movie, and you know the song… ValerieElaine’s layout makes you want to sing it out loud! With elements from various kits from Christmas Wishes, including “Merry Berry”, the festive brrrrr factor is vividly brought to life!

Introducing the New Christmas Wishes Expansion Pack

Celebrate the enchantment of the season with Christmas Wishes, a gorgeous collection of Christmas-themed digital scrapbooking kit and template sets designed for use with Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. Sold separately, you would pay over $100 dollars for this amazing digital content – but we’re extending our introductory pricing and offering it all to you for only $14.95 until January 31, 2011. Use the following link to get Christmas Wishes for this fantastic price:

Get Christmas Wishes today!

Note: Prices are in U.S. dollars. You must use the link above to get this discount. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Introductory pricing expires midnight, January 31, 2011. The Christmas Wishes Expansion Pack requires Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 software.

Below is just a small sample of some of the gorgeous kits that are part of Christmas Wishes – get inspired to scrap all those holiday pics! To view everything that’s included, click here.

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

The Freebie:

This month, Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Fiona Storey has shared an elegant Victorian-themed mini-kit with refined sensibilities.

The Challenge:

Challenge: Using at least three (3) items – or all of them – from the freebie kit, make a page honouring a friend or person you admire.

Find the challenge thread here!

January 2011 Featured Kits

Looking for kits with Fiona’s signature style? Here’s a few for your list, and a coupon to use, too! Below are January’s featured kits, all by Fiona Storey.

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

You’ll find all four kits in the Featured Content section of the store. (Be sure to type in the code FST-JAN in the coupon code field exactly as shown. Applies to new orders only)

More Snow, and a couple of doggies!

Who knew that there could be so much snow in Texas? It sure is pretty, and Kimmyann’s magical layout captures what must have been a truly enchanting site! Blending kits such as “Frosting” and “Flurries and Frost” from Christmas Wishes, Kimmyann shows us that icy blues are just as Christmas-y as red, gold, and green!

We couldn’t resist including this little page. These pups don’t always wear their jackets, but when they do, it makes for a great photo op! Elements are from a combination of “Merry Berry”, “Frosting”, “Kids Christmas”, and “Flurries and Frost” – all from Christmas Wishes.

* * A special thanks to Michelle McCoy for hosting an awesome challenge last month, where the three featured Scrapbook MAX!-er layouts, inspired by the chilly Christmas season, were taken from! Great fun – check it out for more “frosty” layout inspiration!

All the best in 2011 – see you next month on February 1, 2011!

The Groove December 2010

December 1, 2010 By karin

In the Groove

‘Tis the season, and this month we’re decking The Groove in Red, Gold, and Green! You’ll love the layouts made by our talented Scrapbook MAX! community members reflecting these rich colours. We begin above with an absolutely adorable “red” layout above by lindaathome – it warms the heart! Plus, we’re showcasing kits and templates from our store that reflect the holiday hues.

Below, you’ll also find a Christmas freebie (and friendly challenge!) from Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Diana Carmichael, perfect for scrapping Christmas past, present and future! Plus, there’s a discount coupon to use on 4 of Diana’s featured kits.

Get into the Christmas Spirit with The Groove!

Regal Red Layouts

Vivid red is the colour of holly, Christmas ribbons, and the perfect contrasting colour to set off Christmas greens. Memphisfran uses crimson red in all its glory below to showcase amazing photos. Beautiful!

Looking for a fun Christmas kit that features spectacular, vivid reds? Check out this Christmas kit from Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Katie Castillo!

Glittering Gold

The richness and shine of this precious metal tone adds instant elegance to a layout. We love the use of gold by nannybernie to mark a very special occasion – and just look at the happiness that shines from the photo, too!

Looking for a Christmas kit that glitters with golden-tones? Check out this Christmas kit from Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Siobhan Kite!

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

The Freebie:

This month, Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Diana Carmichael has shared a delightful Christmas-themed mini-kit with plenty of sparkle (see preview image above)!

The Challenge:

Challenge: Using at least three (3) items – or all of them – from the freebie kit, make a page with a snowy, frosty winter theme!

Find the challenge thread here!

December 2010 Featured Kits

Looking for kits with Diana’s signature style? Here’s a few for your list, and a coupon to use, too! Below are December’s featured kits, all by Diana Carmichael.

Be sure to use the coupon code DCA-DEC to get 10% off any of the four featured kits. Simply add any of the Featured Kits below to your cart in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store until December 31, 2010, and type in the coupon code DCA-DEC , to receive your 10% off discount.

You’ll find all four kits in the Featured Content section of the store. (Be sure to type in the code DCA-DEC exactly as shown. Applies to new orders only)

Gorgeous Green

Green is the colour of Christmas trees and wreaths, and the colour of life even in the wintry days of December! We love this tribute to nature – and the colour green – by Aussie Annette.

Looking for a Christmas kit showcasing fresh greens? Check out this Christmas kit from Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Michelle McCoy!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, from The Groove! “See you next year” on January 1, 2011!

digital scrapbooking software

In the Groove

Memories of Goin’ Retro

Scrapbook MAX! Designer Profile

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

Christmas Past

Get a Discount on Featured Scrapbooking Kits

New Releases in the Scrapbook MAX! Kit and Templates Store

Goodbye – and Hello!

In the Groove

Meet Scrapbook MAX! Designer Katherine a.k.a. MagicalReality Designs

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

Some of Katherine’s Favourite Designs – Save 10% this month!

Spotlight on Challenge Winners

May 2012 Challenges

A Family Story Goes On…

In the Groove

O, Canada!

4th of July – “Take Two!”

Groove Layout Challenge – Spectacular Prizes!

**NEW RELEASES!** – Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates!

In the Groove

Beyond Red and Pink

**BIG SALE: FOREVER LOVE EXPANSION PACK**

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

February 2011 Featured Kits

Valentine-a-rama!

Crafty Wishes

In the Groove

Snow, Snow, Snow!

Introducing the New Christmas Wishes Expansion Pack

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

January 2011 Featured Kits

More Snow, and a couple of doggies!

In the Groove

Regal Red Layouts

Glittering Gold

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

December 2010 Featured Kits

Gorgeous Green

Footer

Links

Try it for free today.

Follow Us

NEW RELEASES! – Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates!

BIG SALE: FOREVER LOVE EXPANSION PACK