The Groove March 2010

March 1, 2010 By karin

lemonade6363’s Green-themed Layout

(This cutie is no grouch!)

In the Groove

Lucky ol’ March is here, and with it spring is around the corner! To celebrate, we’ve included fresh layouts that incorporate green as their standout color – in unexpected ways. Check them out to inspire YOUR creativity!

We also have a freebie challenge that will have you in a spring tizzy! Fiona Storey’s springlike elements are gorgeous (as usual), and they are yours to use. Find the freebies and challenge details below.

Happy March, happy spring, and let The Groove inspire your layouts this month!

Color Theory

Certain colors just go together. Sometimes this is because they are completely opposite and they help each other “pop”. That’s the case in the layout below – we love how Diana (knzus) used purples and greens grounded by white to put together this lovely layout. It all looks even fresher because the tones are muted and not too bold. Pretty and unexpected!

knzus – Love Shines From the Heart Layout

Greens and Neutrals

Another way to make greens catch the eye is to layer it on a neutral. Kimbob’s grassy green elements on a grungy, neutral background are ingenious! We love how the natural green color catches your eye, but doesn’t distract from the subject of the layout – the photos of “good friends”. Fabulous!

kimbob’s Good Friends Layout

Greening Up a Storm

This layout by sacannon was just so creative! There is so much artistry – using the main image as the background with an embossed image effect, focusing on a single frost-covered tree as the subject, and of course the pop of green (and touches of lively red), which make us think of warmth and life despite the storm. Inspired!

sacannon – Winter Storm Layout with Greenery

The Monthly Freebie Challenge

Freebie Mini-Kit by designer Fiona Storey

Each month, a featured 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 and post a link to your layout in a reply to the challenge thread!

This month, designer Fiona Storey has shared a free-spirited, springy kit with great colors and embellishments!

Fiona’s Challenge:

Using at least 4 items from this kit (one item MUST be a butterfly or dragonfly), scrap a ‘spring’ layout. You may add other items from other kits but remember to give credit.

Your page must include text that has one of the following words on it: “Spring” ”Dragonfly” or ”Butterfly” (e.g. Like “Butterfly Dance” “Spring at Last” ). Let your creativity spring into life!

Find the freebie challenge thread here!

March 2010 Featured Kits

Looking for kits similar to this month’s lovely freebie? Here’s a few for your list, and a coupon to use, too! Below are March’s four featured kits, all by Fiona Storey.

Be sure to use the coupon code FST-MAR 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 March 31, 2010, and type in the coupon code FST-MAR, to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code FST-MAR exactly as shown. Applies to new orders only).

Fiona Storey – Eternally Spring Kit

Fiona Storey -Delightful Denim Kit

Fiona Storey – Lace Dreams Kit

Fiona Storey – Naturally Yours Kit

Booster Pack Store: New Releases

Great 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.

Siobhan Kite – Bunnie Template

Julia Corley – Lilly Dreams Template

Diana Carmichael – Artwerk Kit

Watch for the next issue of The Groove, coming April 1, 2010!

The Groove February 2010

February 1, 2010 By karin

An adorable layout in red by akela

In The Groove

February is here – a month of love and romance that has us seeing red – in a good way, that is!

In this issue of The Groove, we’ve fully embraced the Valentine spirit. You’ll find “red” layouts, a “love”ly challenge and freebie by Booster Pack Store designer Diana Carmichael, a special 20% off offer on the all-new Forever Love Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 – and more!

Read on for the full scoop – and celebrate life, love and “scrappy-ness”!

Erase-a-rama!

Last month, we introduced an awesome new feature added to Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 – an eraser (HOORAY!)!! We called for your most creative layouts using this tool, and boy did you respond! We’ve posted some of our favorites below, but you all sure made it hard to choose. For more terrific layouts showing you what you can do with this super-easy-to-use tool, check out this thread in our forums (you’ll find some great tips and suggestions offered by our members, too!).

Carena – Caitlyn with a Crocodile Layout

kds_24_f- “Popeye” Layout (what a face!)

omajo – Creative Layout

Eraser Tip: To zoom in on the object you want to erase, use your mouse wheel!

The Forever Love Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 –

**SPECIAL OFFER!**

Looking for the perfect scrapbooking content to scrap wedding, bridal shower, engagement or any romantic themes? (Remember Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!).

Look no further than the Forever Love Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0, on sale now for 20% off the regular price:

Click here to get 20% off Foreve Love until February 28, 2010.

Forever Love comes with everything you need to create dazzling pages that celebrate love and romance. We send it to you as a download immediately after purchase, and it imports automatically into Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 so you can get started right away! This pack comes with:100+ unique, customizable wedding-themed template pages; 570+ embellishments; 140+ backgrounds; 75 paper Scraps; 18 photo shapes.

Click here to see everything you get!

You’ll love the variety of styles: elegant, contemporary, crafty, classic, fun and more!

Offer ends February 28, 2010 and applies only to the Forever Love Expansion Pack and to new orders only. You must use the special link to receive your discount. The Forever Love Expansion Pack requires Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 software. (To purchase Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 software, click here.)

Gorgeous Layouts made with content from the Forever Love Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0:

The Monthly Freebie Challenge

Preview of “Love”-ly Freebie Kit by Diana Carmichael

Each month, a featured 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 and post a link to your layout in a reply to the challenge thread!

This month, designer Diana Carmichael has shared a gorgeous, kit in sumptuous red and purple tones.

Diana’s challenge:

Using at least three (3) of the freebie kit items, scrap a layout using at least one of the following titles:

    Funky Love
    Love Is _____ (you fill in the blank)
    Color The World With Love
    How Do I Love Thee? (tell us the ways!)

Find the freebie and challenge here!

February 2010 Featured Kits

Looking for kits similar to this month’s fab freebie? Here’s a few for your list, and a coupon to use, too! Below are February’s four featured kits, all by Diana Carmichael.

Be sure to use the coupon code DCA-FEB, 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 February 28, 2010, and type in the coupon code DCA-FEB, to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code DCA-FEB exactly as shown. Applies to new orders only).

Booster Pack Store: New Releases

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

Michelle McCoy – i Need u Kit

Monja Wessel – My Secret Garden Elements

Katie Castillo – Cupid Kit

Shades of Red

To conclude our February issue – A wonderfully creative layout with a red theme by nannybernie.

Watch for the next issue of The Groove, coming March 1, 2010!

The Groove January 2010

January 1, 2010 By karin

An adorable Christmas layout by mollie

(from the December 2009 Groove Challenge, hosted by Wendy Gibson)

Happy New Year –

and Happy New Eraser!

You asked, and we listened! Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 now comes with an AMAZING new eraser tool!

The eraser tool is included in the latest release of Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. If you own Scrapbook MAX! 2.0, upgrade for free by going to Help > Check for Update in the menu, and follow the instructions. If you purchase Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 today, you will immediately be sent a link to download the very latest version of the software – including the new eraser. Right now you also get 20% off the regular price and a free mega bonus pack!)

USING THE COOL NEW ERASER!

Simply click on the photo or embellishment that you want to work with, then click on the eraser tool on the toolbar.

Holding down the left button on your mouse, “erase” the portions of your object that you want to have disappear!

Oops! Did you erase too much? Simply click on the “brush” tool on the eraser dialog, and go over the spots where you may have gotten too eraser happy. This restores your image! (Want to restore your whole image? Just select “Reset” on the eraser dialog.)

Using the eraser, my little dachshund looks like he’s popping out of the frame – how cute (and how easy!!)

LOOKING FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE ERASER?

The Help File has GREAT information and tips about using the eraser. You can access Help by clicking on Help in the menu, and searching for the topic you want to read about. Or, click on the tool you want to learn, and click on the Help button that appears on that tool’s dialog – this will take you to just the right spot in the Help file!

The best way to learn just about anything in Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 software is to play around. But when you’re looking for a little more info, the Help File is your best friend!

SHOW OFF YOUR ARTISTIC ERASING!

The creative possibilities are endless! And we want to see what YOU do with the new eraser tool. We’re challenging you to post your layouts that show off your creative erasing talents in this thread. We will feature our favourite three in the next issue of The Groove!

The Groove Freebie Challenge!

“Golden” freebie kit by designer Steve Russell

Each month, a featured 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 January 2010 gallery (coming soon) and post a link to your layout in a reply to the challenge thread!

This month, designer Steve Russell has shared a gorgeous, golden kit for you to play with.

The challenge: Using as many items in this kit as you can, scrap a layout. Your page must include text that has the word “gold” in it (e.g. Like “Searching for a heart of gold”). Let your creativity “shine”!

Find the Challenge thread here!

January 2010 Featured Kits

Looking for kits similar to this month’s fab freebie? Here’s a few for your list, and a coupon to use, too! Below are January’s four featured kits, all by Steve Russell.

Be sure to use the coupon code IRE-JAN, 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 January 31, 2010, and type in the coupon code IRE-JAN, to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code IRE-JAN exactly as shown. Applies to new orders only).

IRE – Love Song Kit

IRE – Hockey Player Kit

IRE- Birthday Bash Kit

IRE – Mom’s Taxi Kit

Holiday Kits for Holiday Pics!

Looking for great kits to scrap your Christmas and Holiday photos? Look no further than the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store.

Below are a few great Christmas and Holiday themed kits and templates to check out. (Looking for more selection? Just type in a key word in the Search box on the store’s home page. You’ll find lovely kits and templates galore!)

Tina Sudweeks – Bright Christmas Kit

Diana Carmichael – Christmas Love Template

Katie Castillo – Hollly Jolly Add-On Kit

Michelle McCoy – HoHo Santa Template

Siobhan Kite – Happy New Year Template

Have a fun-filled, scrap-happy 2010!

A gorgeous Christmas layout by Sylvia Esther

(from the December 2009 Groove Challenge, hosted by Wendy Gibson)

The Groove March 2008

March 1, 2008 By karin

“Green” St. Patrick’s Day Layout by Aggie Girl

In The Groove

In many places, March is a month where things begin to get “green” again. Throughout this issue, you’ll notice that many of the layouts have a green theme to help us celebrate the new beginnings of the season.

We also have some “new” and exciting features to share with you – like our brand new challenge format – where everybody gets a little something (hint…designer-made FREEBIES!), plus a discount deal on featured kits from our store.

So read on for all of your Groove-y favorites, and more!

Ideas for “Around the House”

No, we’re not promoting a new cleaning product or suggesting that you re-decorate! When we say “Around the House”, it’s in relation to scrapbooking (of course!). So though this may be the month of “spring cleaning” your house, we hope you’ll look at your house with a “scrapper’s eye” for layout inspirations!

Perhaps it’s a pattern in the draperies or area rug that gets your creating juices flowing. Or maybe it’s a view from a window, or an ordinary day at home that turns into one of your fondest memories. Get inspired by the layouts below from Fiona Storey and O2BNgHope that take home and family as a starting point for scrapbooking inspiration!

Digital Scrapbooking Tips

Groovy Tip #1 – Use a Photo as a Background! Just open up your photos folder, and drag and drop your favorite photo into the Scrapbook MAX! design space. Select ‘Background’ in the drag and drop assistant. The creative possibilities are endless!

Groovy Tip #2 – When exporting a template, make sure that you choose to “remove photos”. This ensures that your template is a “fresh canvas” for those you share it with!

Scrapper Profile

Mary

Meet Mary (mh51) – a talented scrapper (love those art posted layouts!), and a delightful presence in the forums. Read on and get to know this generous, humble and all-around lovely lady!

Q- Tell us a little about yourself.
A- I am happily married (second time around) to Bob. He’s my best friend. I have two loving, caring sons and two WONDERFUL grandsons.
I was born in Scotland and migrated ‘south’ to England when I was 25yrs old. I’m quite a private person, not too good with words & having difficulty describing myself!! I love spending time with family and am VERY ‘close’ to my sister Helen.

Q- How did you get started on digital scrapbooking?
A- I just cannot remember… I was making paper cards only for a short time & only for family members and I think I was browsing the web looking for some supplies and stumbled across Scrapbook MAX! and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Q- What are your hobbies/interests (other than digital scrapbooking of course)?
A- My main interest HAS to be my grandsons, Sam & Ben. I just cannot imagine life without them. Travel has to come pretty high on my list also. We have now visited ALL of the 50 USA States and quite a bit of Europe also.

Q- Where do you get your layout ideas?
A- I just find a ‘subject matter’ ~ drag into SBM ~ and take it from there. As you all probably know I use quite a lot of art posters & just can’t get away from the floral theme. We had quite a large garden before moving to apartment living, so I suppose that love of flowers never leaves you.

Q- Tell us about the layout you are most proud of and why.
A- Sorry ~ I’m not that conceited.

Q- What do you think makes Scrapbook MAX! so popular?
A- Its Members & the Forum. I check it EVERY day and almost every hour. Everyone is so friendly & helpful. I love the community spirit. We have many talented people and I just adore the work of Deanne Gow-Smith ~ our very own MOONBEAM. However does she keep coming up with such great work… it just gets better & better. I wish I had her vision.

Q- Who is your favorite movie star?
A- Had to think about this one…. And if I have to choose one I would probably say Denzel Washington. He’s so versatile and I don’t think he’s made a bad move yet! (psst..sound like YOU, Mary!)

Check out some of Mary’s favorite layouts below:

The Scrapbook MAX!

Community Welcomes YOU!

For those of you who have not yet joined our free Online Community, the time is now! Get great scrapbooking tips, join interesting, informative (and sometimes downright wacky!) discussions (in a good way!), and post your questions about Scrapbook MAX! – our active community of thousands of members means you have support and fun at you fingertips 24/7!

And the best part? A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING FREEBIES! In our Community’s Sharing Corner, you’ll find new freebie templates and embellishments posted all the time by generous and talented “Fellow MAX!-ers”

Join the fun and find some friends in the Scrapbook MAX! Online Community. Here’s how to register (it’s fast, secure, and free!):
Step 1: SIGN UP: http://www.scrapbookmax.com/forums/register.php

Step 2: ACTIVATE: You’ll receive an email from us after you register. Follow the link to activate your account.

Step 3: SIGN IN: Once you’ve registered and activated an account, you can sign in and download embellishments.

The Groove’s (first-ever)

Monthly Freebie Challenge!

So we were thinking…”our readers love freebies”. And then we thought some more…”our readers are always up for a layout challenge”. And that’s how THE GROOVE MONTHLY FREEBIE CHALLENGE was born! Here’s how it works:

The “Freebie” Part!

Kathie Woolery has generously supplied a freebie mini-kit to all our Groove readers based on her full kit called “Primavera Promises” – “Tender pink flowers, blue skies, and the first sweet green grass; this mini-kit coordinates with Primavera Promises and features five springtime backgrounds in a watercolor on canvas texture and ten elements to help you celebrate Spring!”

The “Challenge” Part!

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

“Create a layout using all three colors of papers and at least five elements (i.e., the papers and elements from the free mini-kit).” Upload your layout to your gallery, and then post a link to your layout in a reply to this thread (also where you’ll find the freebie kit!!!).”

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

March 2008 “Featured Kits”

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

This month, when you purchase the full Primavera Promises kit, or any of Kathie’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 March 31, 2008, and type in the coupon code MARCH-KWO to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code MARCH-KWO exactly as shown).

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

Featured Kits for March 2008

Primavera Promises Kit

Days Gone By Kit

$Kathie Woolery - Bare Footin\$

Looking For Love Kit

Bare-Footin’ Kit

Here’s how Kathie Woolery describes her design style:

“I would have to describe my design style as realistically textured. I prefer designing (and using) realistic backgrounds and elements with a feeling of substance like cardstock, linen, lace, chipboard and painted wood.”

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

A special Freebie from our

Community!

Tired of freebies yet? We didn’t think so!!!

Sometimes “seeing green” is just right! Enjoy Scrapbook MAX! Community Member Wickel’s lovely St. Patrick’s Day template page to get you into the spirit of green!

Find Wickel’s “Think Green” template in our Sharing Corner.

First Place Winner

in “The Four Seasons” Contest

by ryansmom66

Isn’t this fantastic? Besides the stunning photo, we love how the color palette of the layout shows off its best features. The crisp white background sets off the dazzling carpet of leaves at the feet of this stunning couple, not to mention the dazzling wedding gown! And the red elements and border pick up the richest tones in the leaves, as well as in the bouquet. Simply genius!

Our Runners-Up

makeyesup provided us with a frosty feast for the eyes – her stunning Winter Layout. What lovely photos and icy color choices – perfection!

We also loved KPierce’s Spring Butterfly Layout, another page that “took flight”. The pastel colors gave the page an airy quality, perfect for showcasing the delicate winges of these regal butterflies!

Congratulations to all who entered The Four Seasons contest. We look forward to seeing your entries in our brand new “Monthly Freebie Challenge” thread, where everyone gets something, including freebies and fun!

Inspirations

The layouts below combine the two themes running throughout this issue of The Groove: around the house, and “green”. What is more “homey” than food, such as the fresh baked cookies in Michelle McCoy’s Lucky Charm Dance layout, or the “good food/good wine” theme of jamiept’s page (with a sophisticated green background)?

Get inspired, and focus on your plate the next time you need a “fresh” layout idea!

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 added to the store in February 2008 by various designers.

Deanne Gow-Smith – Victoriana Series Adelaide

http://www.scrapbookmax.com/store/product.php?productid=1666&cat=0

Stacey Kluczny – Sweet Memories

http://www.scrapbookmax.com/store/product.php?productid=1674&cat=0

Fiona Storey – She Remembers

http://www.scrapbookmax.com/store/product.php?productid=1675&cat=0

Esther Barry – Dance With Me

http://www.scrapbookmax.com/store/product.php?productid=1640&cat=0&page=5

Carena Scott – All Male

http://www.scrapbookmax.com/store/product.php?productid=1581&cat=0&page=1

Michelle McCoy- Paddy Green

http://www.scrapbookmax.com/store/product.php?productid=1651&cat=1

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

Hold on to your hats…we have a wonderful and wacky “April Fool’s” issue in store for you next month!

The Groove January 2008

January 1, 2008 By karin

Digital Scrapbooking Inspiration

In The Groove

Another great year has come and gone. It’s time to celebrate the past year, and look forward to the future! What better way to celebrate than to get out your favorite photos from 2007, and start scrappin’!

This month, we’ve packed The Groove with layouts that show off the fine art of “Celebrating”. You’ll get your chance, too – look for our brand new layout contest called “Celebrate Good Times!” – details below.

We’re starting off the “Groove-y” New Year with our usual round of tips and tricks for great digital scrapbooking. Plus, you’re going to l ove this month’s freebie from Steve Russell, and an incredible coupon for 20% purchases in the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store (read below for the full scoop!). Get into 2008, and get into The Groove!

Life’s Celebrations

We all work hard every day. That’s why it’s important to take time to remember what it’s all for – the joy of celebrations, big and small. Maybe that’s why special times for celebrating were invented in the first place!

Check out two very special layouts below that capture the magical moments that we live for. Our thanks to the very talented fourfoxes (Nolan’s First Christmas) and kimbob (And So It Begins) for their wonderful contributions!

Digital Scrapbooking Tips

Don’t forget about Drag and Drop!

Groovy Tip #1: You can use embellishments that you’ve downloaded from other sites in Scrapbook MAX!. Just open up the folder where you keep your stash, select the image you want to use, and drag it into the Scrapbook MAX! design space. The Drag and Drop Assistant will ask you how you want to add your image; as a Photo, Embellishment, Paper Scrap, or Background. It’s that easy!

Groovy Tip #2: When you drag and drop embellishments into your Scrapbook MAX! design space, make sure you add them in as Embellishments (and not Photos). Otherwise, if you make a template and choose Remove Photos, your embellishments will be removed!

Scrapper Profile

Fiona Storey

Meet Fiona Storey, a.k.a. “angelwithin”! This lovely lady is a true “angel” in our forums, helping others with technical questions and sharing her creative ideas. She is also a designer in our Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store. Read on to learn more about her.

Q. If you were an animal, what would you be? Why?

A. I’d have to be a wild Cat as the wildcat would never take a conventional route, preferring to explore life from off the beaten track, relying heavily on thier instincts and powers of observation to guide them safely through the jungle. Their air of indifference and need for privacy keeps them on the outskirts of society, but their love for comfort always brings them back – that is so me lol!

Q. How long have you been digital scrapbooking and what got you started?

A. I got into digital scrapbooking by accident around November 2006. I have been making cards for numerous years. I’d been making my own embellishments in paint shop pro but often found when I printed them they were slightly the wrong size for the card I was designing. So I went hunting online for a program that I could use to help me layout out and size all the digital embellishments for my cards. I found Scrapbook MAX! and within a few hours I was totally hooked!

Q. What are your non-scrapbooking hobbies?

You mean there are hobbies outside of scrapbooking!!! I’m joking, I am still into card making, I write poetry, create digital art, I love making printable paper crafts, weave dream catchers, make relaxation dvd’s, play bingo and build web sites……..but my Hubby says my biggest hobby besides scrapbooking is spending money on ebay! lol

Q. Tell us about your family.

I’ve been married to Stephen for nearly 5 years now and it’s 2nd time lucky! I have two great kids, Joe & Jenny, both well adjusted normal people ….still trying to figure out how that happened with me as their mother!

I come from a big crafting arty family and have 4 sisters and 3 brothers scattered all over southern UK. Mum & dad live a few miles away from us. We were brought up to be creative; both my parents and my grandparents were artists & writers.

Q. There is a blank screen in front of you. How do you begin your layout?

A. It really depends on my mood! I sometimes start out with paper and pencil, scribble down a rough draft of how I want a set of layouts to look. Often, I will start with just one item – it may just be a photograph, a paper scrap, a frame or an embellishment – and that then becomes the focal point for the layout.

Q. Tell us about one layout that you are particularly proud of and why.

It’s not a single page layout, it’s a whole album about my son Matthew’s short life. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. At times I really didn’t think I would finish it as I re-lived so many happy and heart wrenching memories doing it – but it was the most healing, cleansing and liberating experience and worth every tear.

Q. What is the best part about using Scrapbook MAX!?

A. It is so user friendly, easy and versatile. You can get fantastic results with very little effort, the fabulous friendships & backup from our forum members, and I can’t forget our great techie & lovely admin staff…..we break it, they will tell us how to fix it *grins*……. Not many programs have such a friendly interactive support system which makes MAX! a pleasure to use.

Q. Describe your favorite time of year.

A. Oh, this is a hard one! I love all the seasons for different reasons lol – that rhymed! I love spring for the vibrant colours and the wonderful feeling of hope it inspires, summer for the long warm cloudless skies and the way it makes everyone happier & friendlier, autumn for the vivid colour changes, misty mornings and the excuse to start putting on weight *winks*, and winter for those long cozy nights with family, friends and steaming mugs of hot chocolate with marshmellows.

Check out some of Fiona’s favorite layouts below:

New Year’s Blow-Out Sale!

20% Off Booster Pack Store Purchases !

You read right! To kick off the New Year with a great big bang, we’re giving you 20% off Booster Pack Store purchases!

This is a great time to stock up on kits to scrap your Christmas and holiday pics, and to stack your stash for all the photos you’re going to be snappin’ in ’08!

Here’s how it works: On purchases of $10 or more in the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store, simply type in the coupon code NEWYEARS2008. You will receive a whopping 20% off of your purchase! Offer expires January 31, 2008.

Offer valid only on purchases made in the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store with a minimum $10 value. Applies to new purchases only; cannot be applied to previous purchases. Coupon code must be used at the time of purchase. Offer expires January 31, 2008.

The Groove’s Monthly Freebie

Here is a mini-kit that’s sure to liven up your fall photos. Enjoy these dazzling freebies by Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store designer Steve Russell!

Click here for your freebies

Love Steve’s Kit? Find links to his autumn themed content kits here!

Creative Genius

Christmas Tags by Tina S.

We love it when folks come up with creative ways to use Scrapbook MAX! -here’s further proof that it`s not just for scrapbooking! Tina S. has not only shared her idea of making Christmas Tags, but she’s giving you a template to make your own! Why not get started on next year’s Christmas wrapping today…hey, it could happen – LOL!

“Hey girls. Made these up so I could have some fun tags this year! Just print them out on white card stock and cut them out! The tags are a shape I made so you can change the papers to anything you like!…” – Tina S., a.k.a. Manatee25

Read Tina’s post in the Scrapbook MAX! Sharing Corner to get Tina’s cool tag template:

Contest: Celebrate Good Times!

There are so many things to celebrate in life, we bet you can`t choose one theme for your contest entry! Whether you want to scrap pics of birthdays, holidays, weddings, anniversaries, first steps, or just a really special day with a really special person, we want to see your
“Celebrate Good Times” layout!

Three winning layouts will be published in the next issue of The Groove: 1st prize is a $20 gift certificate to the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store! 2 runners up will each receive an official Scrapbook MAX! mousepad.

To enter, publish your layout as a JPEG image using the ‘High Quality’ and ‘Web/Email’ options, and upload it to the Celebrate Good Times contest page in the Scrapbook MAX! gallery. All entries will be available for viewing. Contest closes Monday, January 28, 2008, 5:00pm (CST). ** Note: You must be a registered member of the Scrapbook MAX! forums to enter this contest. Register for free here!

First Place Winner

in “Vintage Memories” Contest

This Christmas-themed vintage layout was a winner. We love the shining smile of this adorable little lady, and the embellishments truly reflect the special times of yesteryear. Way to go, Gotart!

Our Runners-Up!

These two vintage layouts look they are right out of great-grandmother’s cherished album. Perfect colors and old-fashioned embellishments showcase spectacular photos. Congratulations to Sue C. and Agnes H. for these inspiring contributions!

By the way, did we mention just how hard it was to choose three winners this month? You blew us away with your creative, vintage layouts. Congrats to everyone who participated -we’re looking forward to your entries in next month’s contest!

Inspirations

We can find celebrations in major milestones, such as a wedding, or in a cherished moment, such as a favorite picture of ourselves and a loved one. Be inspired by such celebratory layouts below by mswizard and OnieRN – they each capture the joy that can we find in the special day, and in the “everyday”.

The Groove Wants YOU!

Next Month in The Groove

The Groove celebrates “The Four Seasons”. Plus, look for January’s “Celebrate Good Times” contest winners!

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Contest: Celebrate Good Times!

First Place Winner

in “Vintage Memories” Contest

Inspirations

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Next Month in The Groove

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