With a 5th Thursday in April we’re going to take a week off from giving you a challenge and focus on some of the hybrid goodies available in the shop.  Don’t worry … there will be PLENTY of challenges and activities for you this weekend

We’ve seen quite a few designers join the ScrapMatters family in the past few months – it’s so fun to watch this amazing site grow!!  One who I have taken serious note of is Megan Turnidge.  Not only are her designs fantastic, but she is an amazing artist herself!  Take a look at her gallery here and throughout the digital community and you’ll see what I mean

She has 2 products in her store right now that are *PERFECT* to get your hybrid juices flowing!  Her Badge Album Templates and Hybrid Gift Bag Templates will help make your hybrid projects come together quickly and easily.  I love being able to use templates for scrapbook pages but finding templates that can help me complete an entire project is like hitting the motherlode!

Aren’t they great?  I’m excited to make my first badge book using her templates – you’ll see it in the gallery soon   Need a little more inspiration?  Make sure to check out our Hybrid Gallery!  There are lots of projects making their way into our gallery and they are fabulous!  The creativity is oustanding.  With Mother’s Day and Teacher Appreciation Week around the corner for so many of us, now is the perfect time to browse through and be inspired.  In fact, I just finished posting my finished Mother’s Day gift – I’m so happy to know it will arrive in plenty of time!!  Click on the image for more detailed photos and credits … which include one of Megan’s kits

Enjoy your last day of April … all of the {inter}National Scrapbooking festivities will be here before you know it!

ScrapMatters has so many terrific things planned for [inter]National Scrapbook Day (NSD) that I don’t know where to start. First off we are having a sale—40% off all personal use digital scrapbook products, except grab bags and clearance, on Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd. The sale continues at 30% off throughout Thursday, May 7th. Commercial use products will also be on sale for various discounts.

Did you notice the phrase, “except grab bags” in the above paragraph? Many of our designers have put together fabulous grab bags for you! We also have a new mega-collab kit called Hawaiian Happy Hour FREE with a $15 purchase in the shop. It is just fabulous—see for yourself:

Hawaiian Happy Hour Mega Kit

We are having a blog train featuring quick pages made by our CT/DT using Hawaiian Happy Hour as well. It will start on Saturday, May 2nd at 7am Pacific time on my blog: http://andilynn.wordpress.com. You might find some other little goodies as you hop on and off the blog train as well. ;D

We are having lots of speed scraps, challenges and games throughout the week as well. We had so much fun last year during NSD that I can hardly wait for the good times ahead starting this weekend.

We are announcing the winners of the Design Star Contest on Friday, May 1st. We are so excited with the talented new batch of apprentices that we have. It was such a great contest with so many good applications that it was really hard to choose who to take onto our team.

May 1st is also the start of the Queen of Scrap Competition (QOS).

Throughout the contest there will be chances for everyone to win free template sets, free kits and more. Natural Wonders, the mega kit pictured below, is one of the amazing participation prizes.

Denise Beatty, our reigning Queen, and Happy Scrap Girl are in charge of this year’s QOS competition and I know that they have lots more fun things planned. Look for additional details to be revealed soon!

The best part of NSD and QOS is getting to know and spend time with you! Hopefully you will take time to drop by, make some new friends and enjoy the fun.

ScrapMatters  CT member Kim (kimbytx) here to host my first scraplift challenge on the blog. For the April 29 Grand Theft Layout we will be paying homage to  Christy aka TheWerners. She is a scrapping machine and has a full gallery ready to lift. And Britt just helped you along by putting out a brand new set of templates called Inspired by Christy. What great timing!

Here is my layout using Britt-ish Designs Imperial Girl kit and add on, and Grace Paper pack and ice cream cone by Erica Zane from Fizzy Fridays (coming soon to ScrapMatters )

and I lifted Christy’s Snack Time

And here is one by winkasheart using Tracie Stroud’s Sweet Pea

and the one she lifted called In with the Red 

and here is one by kv2av using Pastel Garden and Old Fashioned by Dirty Feet Designs
and this is the one she lifted titled Spring Has Sprung 

Have Fun! I look forward to seeing what you come up with! You have lots of fabulous pages to choose from! 

Hey everyone Andrea here. It’s come to my attention that some people are not able to access the site now that we’ve changed servers. Most likely that is due to a cookie setting on your computer–it’s not recognizing SM’s new IP address. So please try clearing your cookies and your history and restarting your computer. Also try using a different browser–like Firefox, Safari, Opera or even IE. If that still doesn’t work, please comment here or send me an email: andilynn at scrapmatters dot com. I will have Travis help me figure out what is wrong. Thanks for your patience, we have so many fun things planned for NSD I really want you to have access to the site!

Hi everyone.  Stefanie here to bring you another Tuesday Template Challenge.  I made this template from a layout I did recently using our Design Star Kits.  I loved the way it turned out so I decided to make it into a template.

and here is the link to download:

http://www.mediafire.com/?2wjyywm5zdb

and here are a couple layouts from our fab CT:

From Kim using Digital Keepsakes by Monica Girls on Wheels except  splatters by Britt-ish Designs from Sunshine in my Soul and Date Stamped  2by Britt-ish Designs

and from tgmousechick

And remember the Matter of Scrap rules:

You have until the end of May to complete a layout. Please upload your LO to the Tuesday Template Challenge gallery and link it the forum to get your point. You can also earn an additional point if you use a ScrapMatters products released in the past 7 days. Just make sure you mention that when you post your page. One lucky winner will receive one more point at the end of the month for creating my favorite layout

You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products to participate in this challenge, but we love it when you do! Remember, no double dipping. Each LO must be created for one challenge only.

Can’t wait to see what you create.

Stefanie

We’ve finished moving servers now and I am so excited that the gallery is open again. Come take a peek at all of the new layouts. Thanks so much for your patience during this lengthy process. I am just amazed at how much faster the pages are loading. Thanks so much to Travis at webSeitler for doing such an excellent job organizing the move.

Hello all… it’s Cyndi here to let you know what matters to me this Monday morning.  It’s our sweet little community here. 

This coming National Scrapbook Day marks the one year anniversary of the day I came to be part of this special place.  One year ago, I decided to get involved.  I attempted a couple challenges, won some free products, and started to get to know people.  I can’t believe how things have evolved over the past year.  For both ScrapMatters and me personally.  I have come to know some great people here, I’ve grown as a scrapbooker and have come to love this place even more.

If you’ve spent any time at all here at ScrapMatters, you know we have something special.  The sense of community and friendship is something not found very often in a digi-community.  Just post a layout in our gallery, and you’ll soon find out how supportive and uplifting the gals here can be.    If you have a question or concern, post a thread in the forum and someone is sure to jump to help.

For me personally, I love the praise I get when I post a layout I’ve poured my heart into.  I’m so thankful for the support I received when I competed in the Design Star Competition.  I’ve even received an email or two when I’ve been a little MIA… just checking to make sure I was okay.  I love that! 

I’m so thankful I found ScrapMatters a year ago.  If you’re new to us and you don’t feel the same yet, get a little involved and I’m sure it won’t take long.  This community is made up of a special bunch of gals.  Come and be a part.

 This week’s LOTW is by danielaleme titled princess. I love the photos! Truly a magical moment! I also really love the string with the heart gems like beads.  The colors are perfect!  You can check out the LO in the gallery and leave her some love in the forum! Congrats danielaleme!

Now on to our…

 1. Your screen name? Your real name?  

kimbytx (Kim)

 2. What is your main job/career? 

I am an Occupational therapist in a skilled nursing facility/rehab center.

 3. Are you married/children/pets?

I have been married to David for almost 10 years, I have an 8 year old daughter, Mackenzie, who is the subject of most of my pictures and layouts, and we have a crazy reindeer Chihuahua.

 4. Where is home for you? 

I have lived in Texas my entire life.

 5. What are 3 of your favorite books?  

I just read the entire TWILIGHT series and would have to say Twilight, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn were my 3 favorites.

 6. What are your favorite T.V. shows?

Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, American Idol, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, Ugly Betty, Army Wives…

 7. What is your favorite color? And can we find it in your layouts?

I love the color pink and tend to use it often with layouts of my daughter.

 8. What type of camera do you use?

I have a Sony H2 with a 12x zoom and small fuji finepix z20 pocket camera.

 9. PC or Mac? What program do you use to scrap?

I use a PC and PSCS2 to scrap.

 10. Do you print out your pages for scrapbooks? If so, how?

I honestly have them all saved but have only printed out one that was used as a memorial for a friend that passed away. I really need to print some out and start some albums. I bought a bunch of 8×8 albums, but have not done a thing with them…

 11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started?

I used to make signatures on message boards using Paint shop pro and then Photoshop. I was co-host on a signature request board with my friend Jenn (JenLin Designs). She started designing and won a design contest and she asked me to be on her CT without me ever doing a layout. That was in January 2008 and have been scrapping like crazy ever since. 

 12. What was your first layout?

It was my first use of a template and one of JenLin Designs first kits. I really was not sure what I was doing. But I think it was ok for a first attempt. 

JenLin Designs Forget Me Nots and template by racketty scrappety. 

13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping?

My social life seems to revolve around my 8 year old. I love to take pictures. I used to like to draw and I think digi-scrapping lets me use my artistic side.

 14. What is the most challenging part of digi-scrapping for you?  

The overall composition, especially with the papers. Once I have the papers placed, I usually find my groove with layering elements.

 15. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking?

I would like to get a better camera and really learn more photography skills. 

 16. Describe your creative environment. Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where?

My office is in our guest room. I use my desktop. No TV. No Music. I usually have a drink…it is hard to eat and work…lol

 17. Can you tell us a little about your scrappin’ style?

I am known for my layering skills and usually get compliments on that. So I guess I am a clutter queen. I have started enjoying using templates more recently to help me step outside my box. I feel like they help me be more creative at times especially with background papers. 

 18. If you could only use two elements on a layout, what would they be?  Flowers and ribbons

 19. Any words of wisdom for anyone just starting out with digiscrapping? Templates are a great way to get comfortable with composition and placement and still allow for lots of creativity and personal style.

 20. What is your favorite part of being part of the ScrapMatters CT?

I love the people at ScrapMatters. It is such a friendly community. The designers are all so sweet and are seen posting on the forum and interacting with the members. I think we have a lot of wonderful designers and I look forward to Fridays to see all the new goodies in the store. I like our challenges, especially the Tuesday template and Grand Theft Layout. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a CT member for ScrapMatters. 

 21. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…?  

I may not act like it and do not feel like it, but I am 41 years old.

 22. Are there any favorite pages that you have done?

 This is one of my faves of my early layouts:

JenLin Designs Princess and the Polka Dots ( a special kit to me as I requested the color scheme from Jenn)

 and some more of my favorites with ScrapMatters Designers:

Woodland Fantasy by Erica Zane and template Sya’s Blueprints Dynamic Duo 3

Sunshine in my Soul by Britt-ish Designs

So Totally Teen by Mickey B Designs and Designs by Tater and template Sya’s Blueprints Linz-spiration

Love Blooms Here by Tracie Stroud and template by sahlin studios

Kenzie by JenLin Designs (I consider this one of my special kits since I requested it and Jenn named it for my daughter)

Thanks Kim for letting us get to know you better. We love to see your inspiring LOs. You can check out her full gallery HERE.

I love the 3-D look of elements intertwined with other elements, alphas and photos on my digital scrapbook pages.  It just adds a lot of dimension to a page AND it is so easy to do!!

I’m using PSE7 in this tutorial, but I’m sure this simple technique will also work in the other programs out there.

For this layout, I want to overlap some ribbon over my photo/text.  I position the ribbon where I want it BEHIND my photo.

After I have the ribbon in the right spot, I duplicate it in the layers palette and then move this new copy to ABOVE my photo.  Make sure to link your 2 ribbons together so they don’t accidentally get shifted from each other.

With your “ribbon copy” layer selected, begin to erase it.  Erase the ribbon over the entire photo part, so when you’re finished it looks like the ribbon is underneath the photo and then weaves up over the “J”.  I used the “block” eraser next to the edges so I can have a nice clean line when I go to add shadows.

How easy was that! Your challenge is to intertwine and overlap like crazy on your layout.

Here’s my LO using Paint Me a Picture by Denise Beatty Originals…

And I have a  few examples for you from the ScrapMatters CT…

Linz has used All Things New by Tracie Stroud.  I love how the red string goes through the alpha and wraps around the frame!

Because this challenge begins at the end of April, it will run until the end of May.  You receive 1 point for completing the challenge, another point if you use a newly released ScrapMatters product and one lucky and talented gal will receive an additional point for knocking my socks off with their intertwining abilities!!

Have fun!

“Inspired by Christy Templates” by Britt-ish Designs

“Hottie Tottie Alpha” by Britt-ish Designs

Decorative Overlays by WM[squared] Designs:

Ornamental Overlays by WM[squared] Designs:

Take a look at these other great products…