A lovely friendship layout by Winnie49

 In The Groove

From the beloved book “Anne of Green Gables”, we learn the delicious phrase “Kindred Spirits”. What is a kindred spirit? A friend, certainly, but more than that. It’s a bond, an understanding, a sense of “I’ve always known you!” between two people that has always been there, somehow, even before they had ever met!

This month in The Groove, we feature layouts that pay tribute to special friendships. And from the looks of the photos in these layouts and the love with which they were made, surely these are all “Kindred Spirit” layouts!

Get inspired to scrap a layout for your kindred spirit. Wouldn’t this make a wonderful gift to send as a surprise email, or to print out and frame?

Below, you’ll also find a Scrapper Profile, and a freebie and challenge from Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store designer Crystal Longbrake. This challenge has an extra twist, so be sure to be sure to get the details!

My Family, My Friends

Friends are a blessing in life. So it’s a double blessing when members of our own family are also our dear friends! We love how these two layouts celebrate the joy of friendship and family. Scrappyfrog’s “Cousins” layout captures a magical day together. Tackettup’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” layout is full of joy, silliness, and laughter – just what a great family friendship should be brimming with!

Scrappyfrog – “Cousins” Layout

Tackettup – “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” Layout

Through Thick and Thin

These layouts are the perfect “bookends” for the things we experience together as friends. The first layout, by LindaPete, recalls a shared moment of sophistication, elegance, and celebration, all in gorgeous pastel tones. The second layout by Wickel, paints in vibrant blues and  breathless words, the adventure, abandon and spirit that also comes with friendship. Through thick and thin, friends are with us always!
  

LindaPete – “Sno Ball 2008” Layout

Wickel – “Flying High” Layout

Scrapper Profile

Crystal Longbrake

Meet Crystal Longbrake, a.k.a. DigiScrapalicious, a friendly forum member, and Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store designer. Get to know more about Crystal below, and check out some of her favorite layouts!

Q-  Tell us one thing about yourself that others are often surprised to learn.
Hmm…my life is an open book, I’m not mysterious and am pretty open and approachable so I don’t think there’s much that would surprise anyone…does that mean I’m boring? hehehe

Q- What made you interested in digital scrapbooking?
I was pregnant with my second child and I realized I still didn’t have my first child’s baby book done (he was seven at the time). I knew I needed to find a quicker more economical way to do it since the traditional way wasn’t cutting it.

Q- Where do you get your layout ideas?
I digiscrap like I paperscrapped. I love the traditional layouts where the pictures are the main focus.

Q- What’s your favorite color (in general)? How about to scrap with?
My favorite color is brown. It’s become a joke with my friends, every time I buy something in a different color, they’re all like “what it didn’t come in brown?”. I scrap with the colors from my pictures, I like the scraps to compliment the event I’m trying to document.

Q- Tell us about your favorite feature of Scrapbook MAX!.
My favorite feature has got to be the movies. I love to share my layouts with others using this.

Editors’ Tip: To publish your scrapbook as a movie, in Scrapbook MAX!, go to File> Publish To> Movie

Q- What tip would you share with a newbie to Scrapbook MAX!?
If you see a template you like but want to use different papers or colors that’s ok. Open the template and switch out each embellishment and paper scrap to your liking. It’s an easy way to do a quick layout.

Q- What’s the subject of the kit that you are working on right now?
It’s called “No Sleep for Braden” and it’s a boy’s pajama kit. It all started with my son playing “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” on Guitar Hero during a sleepover and kind of spiraled from there.

Q- How would you describe your scrapbooking style?
My scrapbooking style is simple clean and neat. I like my pages to tell a story and I try to include some journaling.

Q- Who do you admire most? Why?I admire my Mom the most. She’s a trooper and one of the strongest women I know.

Here are some of Crystal’s favorite layouts!

“Pigtail” Layout

“Elijah” Layout

“Eden” Layout

 Thanks for sharing, Crystal!

Friends For Life! 

Not only are the layouts themselves absolutely gorgeous, but just look at the smiles on these ladies’ faces – sheer joy of being together! Pickngrin’s fresh, whimsical elements are the perfect backdrop for the photos of these lovely friends. And scrappyaggie48’s neutral-toned, elegant design sets off the sparkling grins worn by these two beautiful ladies.

pickngrin – “My Friend Forever” Layout 

scrappyaggie48 – “The Two A’s” Layout

The Groove Monthly Freebie
Challenge!

This month’s freebie is based on Crystal’s “Botanically Yours” Kit!

The Freebie Part

Crystal Longbrake has shared these elegant freebies, perfect for any sophisticated layout! Find the freebies in our Groove Monthly Freebie thread!

The Challenge Part

Use at least three pieces from the freebie kit and create a layout. Share it in The Groove’s March 2009 Monthly Freebie thread! (find the freebie attached to the first post in the thread, plus additional elements posted throught the thread on March 1 – see “BONUS CHALLENGE” description for  the exciting details!)

** BONUS CHALLENGE**: The challenge described above lasts the whole month of March, 2009. HOWEVER –throughout the day on March 1, 2009, Crystal will be adding more elements to the freebie kit in the The Groove’s March 2009 Challenge thread (about 2 elements every hour from 1pm-5pm central time!). Be sure to check in every hour or so and download even more freebies! And not only that, if you post a layout that steps up to the challenge by 8pm central time on March 1, you might win a free kit of your choice from Crystal’s selection in the store! Crystal will be randomly selecting a layout posted on March 1 by 8pm CST, so get scrapping!

March 2009 “Featured Kits”

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

Below are March’s three featured kits, all by Crystal Longbrake. This month, when you purchase any of Crystal’s three Featured Kits, you’ll receive a discount for 10% off! Simply add any of the three Featured Kits to your cart until March 31, 2009, and type in the coupon code CLO-MAR to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code CLO-MAR exactly as shown).

Crystal Longbrake – Botanically Yours Embellishments

Crystal Longbrake – Unabridged Embellishments

Crystal Longbrake – This Little Piggy Embellishments

Offer applies only to featured kits, new orders only. Coupon code CLO-MAR must be used at the time of order. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Offer ends March 31, 2009.  

Booster Pack Store:
New Releases

Many 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.

Carena Scott – Arthur Papers Kit

Michelle McCoy – Cocoa Mint Pages

Deanne Gow-Smith – Blue Diamond Kit

Look for the next issue of The Groove on April 1, 2009!

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