Call for submissions for June/July issue

Brrr! If it's anywhere near as cold and dreary where you live as it is in my Portland office, you'll love the chance to "think sunny" for our new call for submissions.

Here are the details. As always, we appreciate seeing seasonally appropriate photos, lively designs and thoughtful journaling.

Also, please feel free to repost this information on your own blog and to share it with others. The more submissions we get, the happier we are--and the more awesome work we can share with you in the magazine.

T3: Tips, Techniques and Tutorials
Our info-packed new column, "T3," features cutting-edge techniques, tips and tutorials from our talented readers and regular contributors.

Here's what we're looking for:
Tips. Have you found a great way to use layer blending modes? A quick fix for less-than-perfect photos? Send us your tips of 50 words or fewer on any digital scrapbooking subject, along with a layout or project that illustrates the tip in action.

Techniques. Busy scrapbookers are always looking for ways to make scrapbooking quicker and easier. Send us your time- and stress-saving techniques, along with a layout or project that shows how you've used them to create.

Tutorials. Send us your projects featuring intermediate- to advanced-level techniques, along with complete instructions for achieving the look. (Check out the step-by-step tutorials in our December/January "Kick It Up" column for an idea of what we're looking for.)

Send us your submission with complete contact information and materials list via e-mail. Your submission should be a JPEG file, 100K or less. Deadline is January 7.

Reality Scrapbooking: Scrapbook Your Real Life
Life isn't all rosebuds and sugar plums--though you'd never know it by looking through the average scrapbook. Rough spots and tough times shape our families' lives as much as (or more than) holidays and celebrations. Tell your true story by sharing the details of the less-than-perfect moments you've experienced. Whether they led you to make a positive change, taught you a valuable lesson or simply helped you develop a sense of humor about yourself, difficult times deserve to be scrapbooked too.

Send us your layouts sharing the details of your real life. We're looking for strong and meaningful journaling and photos that capture emotion. We'd also like to hear your stories about how scrapbooking challenging times has helped you to cope with them in a positive way.

Send us your submission with complete contact information and materials list via e-mail. Your submission should be a JPEG file, 100K or less. Deadline is January 7.

Bonus: Want to improve your submission's chance of success? Check out our preparation guidelines.

Meet the Creative Team: Becky Pogatchnik

Today, we'd like you to meet the fifth member of our Creative Team: Becky Pogatchnik. Becky's strongly graphic layouts, infused by a sense of whimsy, are regularly featured in Digital Scrapbooking. She's known for her blending of journaling, design and photographs with a strong focus on the meaning behind each picture. She lives in Minnesota with Jamie, her husband of eleven years, and Sam, her six-year-old daughter.

How did you get into digital scrapbooking?

I have been scrapping digitally for a year and a half. It was supposed to have been “just one layout.” And that one turned into another. And another. And I never looked back. My once prized and hoarded paper supplies are now play things for my six-year-old.

Can you share a little about your scrapbooking philosophy with Digital Scrapbooking's readers?

Digital is such an ideal medium for my ultra-simple style. Some days, I barely consider myself a scrapper—I see myself as more of a biographer of sorts. My goal is to document my daughter’s life through words and photos (in that order). I want her to know who she was. Who I was. Who we were together. I create lots of “sans photo” layouts. No photos. Just words. I think it’s perfectly acceptable to just write. Don’t over-think it. Just say it. Don’t worry about complete sentences. Write like you talk. And write it while you still remember. My daughter says classic things on a daily basis, and it's usually while I'm driving. Whenever she does, I discreetly pick up my cell phone and call my voice mail, repeating what she just said.

What's something most people don't know about you?

A surprising fact about me? There aren’t many. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m passionate about life. I’m passionate about living it. Okay, here’s one. I’m addicted to America’s Next Top Model. But only so I can learn from the photo shoots.

Meet the Creative Team: Cassie Jones

Today, we'd like to introduce a fourth member of our Creative Team: Cassie Jones. Her bright, cheerful pages and attention-grabbing techniques have been featured regularly in the pages of Digital Scrapbooking since the magazine's launch. She lives in Texas with her husband Jeffry and their five-year-old son Jack, the star of many of Cassie's layouts.

How did you get started in digital scrapbooking?
I have been scrapbooking digitally since the fall of 2006. I tried really hard to be a paper scrapper, but I just wasn't producing much. I've always been comfortable at a computer, and when I became a stay-at-home mom, I decided to pick up a book and learn the Adobe Creative Suite. I was hooked by the second chapter, but never finished the book. I just learned enough to get myself addicted, and took it from there.

Do you have a tip you'd like to share with Digital Scrapbooking's readers?
The main photography tip I would give scrapbookers is to keep an eye out for unusual perspectives. Take your shots from unexpected angles, and the results will make fabulous pages!

What's something most people don't know about you?
I think the thing that most surprises people (who don't know me well) is that I have some sort of subconscious fear of completing things (other than scrapbooking). I do pretty much everything to about 96% completion, then I walk away and start something else. If the kitchen is clean and I come across a spoon that got missed, I just put it in the sink and walk away. It's a strange sort of comfort. Crazy? I think so.

Meet the Creative Team: Deena Wuest

Today, we'll meet a third member of our new Creative Team: Kansas resident and regular Digital Scrapbooking contributor Deena Wuest.

Clean, crisp and uncluttered, Deena's scrapbooking style is one that could only be achieved with digital tools and techniques. Married for thirteen years to her husband Joe, she's also a mom of three: seven-year-old daughter Savanna, six-year-old son Skyler and baby girl Brooklyn (the star of the layout below). "I've always had a passion for graphic design," Deena says. "Digital scrapbooking has given me the perfect outlet to combine this passion with my first love: my family."

How did you get started in digital scrapbooking?
I started paper scrapbooking seven years ago when my daughter was born and made the leap to digital about two years ago. I actually agonized over the decision to switch from paper, and I'll never fully understand why. My favorite part of paper scrapping was designing my text and layouts in Microsoft Word, so going digital should have been a no-brainer. When I finally got a copy of Photoshop Elements, I was in absolute heaven--I kicked myself for not trying it sooner. These fingers haven't touched paper since!

Do you have a tip you'd like to share with Digital Scrapbooking's readers?
When I download a kit, I make a copy of the preview file included in the ZIP file and save it in a separate folder titled "Previews - Kits." That way, when I want to look through my supplies, I can open this folder in Windows Explorer, change the View option to "Filmstrip," and see at a glance a large photo of everything in the kit. Since I don't have to open each kit folder separately, it saves a lot of time. It's also very inspiring to look through all the gorgeous kits. (I also make separate preview directories for my accents, alphas, and templates.)

Sneak peek layout:

Meet the Creative Team: Melinda Alexander

Today, we'd like to introduce you to another new member of our Creative Team: Melinda Alexander. You may recognize Melinda's name--and you'll definitely recognize her photos of her son--from previous issues of Digital Scrapbooking. Melinda lives along the Murray River in Australia with her husband Joel and four-year-old son Jordan.

Her location makes her a perfect photographer for our magazine. Since Australia's seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere, Melinda can look forward to getting frantic calls in February asking for summery-looking shots... and vice versa!

How long have you been scrapbooking digitally?
I've been working digitally for three years. I was never a paper scrapper.

How did you get into digital?
I stumbled into digital while trying to find a way to make a personalized baby album for my son and knew right away it was for me. I had long loved playing around with photos and editing software!

What's something most people don't know about you?
I stay up late at night--I mean ridiculously late--to get scrapping done. It's the only chance I have for some time to myself.

Do you have a tip you'd like to share with Digital Scrapbooking's readers?
To get great photos of kids, let your shooting be spontaneous. Interact with them while they are doing their own thing... sing silly songs or play fun games to get their attention.

Get crafty for the holidays with Renee Pearson

It's time to deck the halls... digitally! Our own Renee Pearson is teaming up with Adobe for a fun, free class on creating holiday-themed projects using Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 and Photoshop CS3 (though of course, it's OK if you have an older version).

Here are the details:

Fun Holiday Projects with Photoshop Elements 6 and Photoshop CS3
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 11:00 A.M. PST

See how easy it is to make exciting holiday-themed projects with Renee Pearson, Associate Editor of Digital Scrapbooking magazine. She'll demonstrate time-saving step-by-step editing and design techniques for each project. Have fun and be creative!

You'll need an Adobe ID to register--it takes just a couple of minutes to get one, and then just a second to sign up for the class.

Hope to see you there... I'll be the one in the back humming "Santa Baby."

Meet the Creative Team: Kayla Lamoreaux

Today, we're introducing the first of our five Creative Team members for 2008: Kayla Lamoreaux. Kayla's work, both in paper and digital formats, has been featured in magazines for years. She's a mom of five kids: a daughter, two sons and twin little girls. Luckily, she's married to "a wonderful and patient man who helps out with dinner," giving her time to work on her creative projects.

How long have you been scrapbooking digitally?
That depends on your definition of "digitally!" I'd been using my computer as a scrapbooking tool for a long time. Then, in 2002, I took a Photoshop class and was soon creating 100%-digital layouts.

How did you get into digital?
In late 2001 I was working on a scrapbook about my husband’s late father. I put it together in traditional format – all 63 pages! For Christmas we created 13 copies of the book – one for each of my husband’s immediate family and his aunts, uncles and grandparents. I scanned each individual page into my computer and printed them with my inkjet printer. 819 pages later (I think it took me a week to get done), I was convinced there must be a better way…which led me to taking my first Photoshop class.

What's something most people don't know about you?
I am a nationally certified Parent to Parent trainer for CHADD. I teach other parents about ADHD and really enjoy making a difference in my community.

Do you have a tip you'd like to share with Digital Scrapbooking's readers?

For this layout, I wanted to show different steps of the action on a single page. I lined up the four successive photos and then merged the layers together over a transparent background. I then duplicated the new merged image by selecting Image > Duplicate and then converted the duplicated image to black and white.

While holding the Shift key, I dragged the black and white image back to the original photo (so the pixels lined up perfectly). I then added a layer mask to the black and white photo layer, and with my brush tool and foreground color set to black, I painted everything back in color except the bright blue slide top that would have distracted from my layout.

Look for Kayla's work in upcoming issues of Digital Scrapbooking!

Congratulations to our new Creative Team!

With Digital Scrapbooking's April/May 2008 issue, we'll be celebrating our first anniversary--and we'll also welcome aboard five new members of our Creative Team.

You'll recognize these women's names from their work featured in previous issues of Digital Scrapbooking. Their skills in design, photography and digital techniques are sure to inspire you.

Congratulations to these new members of the Creative Team!

• Melinda Alexander
• Kayla Lamoreaux
• Becky Pogatchnik
• Deena Wuest
• Cassie Jones

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll introduce you to each team member individually and give you a special sneak peek at their recent work. Please join us in welcoming them to the Digital Scrapbooking family.

In Review: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0

For several years now, Adobe Photoshop Elements has been the software of choice for a huge percentage of digital scrapbookers, as the submissions we receive at Digital Scrapbooking make clear. With the release of Photoshop Elements 6.0, it's apparent once again why this program is so popular with digi-scrappers of every level of experience and ability. Several cool new features make it easier than ever to use, and a color-scheme makeover gives it a fresh dash of style.

I've had the chance to play with this new version for a few weeks now, and here are some of my favorite updates:

• Sleek new space. As soon as you launch Elements 6.0, you'll be greeted by a sleek new workspace with a charcoal-gray background similar to Adobe's Photoshop, Bridge and Lightroom professional-level programs. This darker color helps photos stand out against the screen and gives a less cluttered appearance.

• Easy organization. In the Organizer workspace, star icons below each photo make it easy to quickly rate each image (so you can start assembling a collection of five-star photos for a book project!) and a new keyword sidebar gives you instant access to descriptive tags for every photo.

• Kit control. If, like most digital scrapbookers, you have a hard drive crammed with kits and elements, you'll love the new Smart Album feature. This feature allows you to create new albums, or collections of images, based on specific criteria that you suggest—and they'll automatically update as you add new content! For example, you can create a Smart Album for all files whose name contains “paper,” or one with the name of a favorite designer set as a keyword.
  

• Menu options. The Organizer workspace includes four menus in the right sidebar: Organize, Fix, Create and Share. Each gives access to a range of common tasks and creative options, from “Auto Red Eye Fix” to “Create Photo Book.” Whether you're a brand-new digital scrapbooker or have been scrapping digitally for years, you'll appreciate the convenience of having these most-requested features at your fingertips.

• Professional guidance. The new Guided Edit mode takes you step-by-step through a series of the most common photo editing tasks, from fixing lighting and contrast problems to repairing tears and scratches in a scanned image. It's like having a Photoshop tutor standing at your elbow.

• Better black and white. Although Photoshop Elements 5.0 included some new black-and-white conversion options, version 6.0 goes a step further and gives you more precise control over your results. In addition to a menu of options such as “Infrared” and “Scenic Landscape,” a series of sliders allow you to fine-tune the effect of each preset option for a truly custom look.
  
  

• Perfect group shots. This one might be worth the price of the upgrade all on its own! New Photomerge technology allows you to select individals from different shots from a group photo session and combine them into a single image where all members look their best. Check out what I did with these less-than-perfect images from a recent family photo shoot.
  Here are the original pictures:
  
  
  
  And the final result:
  
  

Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 sells for a suggested price of $99 for the full version or $79 for an upgrade. Try it for free by downloading a trial version at adobe.com.

Happy Digital Scrapbooking Day!

How are you celebrating this first-of-its-kind occasion? I hope you're making time to go through photos... pick out the perfect digital kits and elements to complement them (you should buy a kit or two in honor of the holiday, right?)... and most importantly, pair them with your own creativity and memories to preserve them for the future.

Don't forget! Today's the last day to enter our "Why I Love Digital Scrapbooking" layout contest. We've got prizes to give away (maybe even including a spot in the magazine!) and we can't wait to see what you've got to share.

(How am I celebrating, you ask? Why, by working on an article for the next issue of Digital Scrapbooking, of course. How else?)

Reader Survey Link Broken

It has come to our attention that the link to fill out the reader survey on the survey page is not working. We will fix it as soon as possible, but in the meantime please use the link below to fill it out:

http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB226VHCNNM7D



You will be entered in a drawing for prizes so fill it out today!


Thank you.

Changes are afoot. Let us know what you think!

This just in, from our editor-in-chief Jennafer Martin:

Wanted: Your opinion

We need digital scrapbookers’ opinions for an upcoming change in the design of Digital Scrapbooking magazine. This is highly confidential, copyrighted information and you'll be under a strict non-disclosure agreement should you choose to participate. There are two ways you can participate:

1) If you’re in the Salt Lake City, UT area, you’re invited to participate in a focus group Wednesday, November 7 at 7 PM at the CK Media offices. Refreshments will be served and those in attendance will receive a prize package of CK Media goodies. Spots are limited to 10 participants and are available on a first-notify, first serve basis. This should last no more than an hour. Please e-mail editor@digitalscrapbooking.com by the end of the day Friday, November 2 to register.

2) If you’re not able to attend the in-person focus group, you can complete an online survey to give us your opinion. We anticipate the survey will take 10-15 minutes, and all participants will be entered into a drawing for a load of goodies.

If you’re interested in either the focus group or the survey, please send an email to editor@digitalscrapbooking.com by the close of business Friday, November 2. We look forward to your feedback!

As an aside, we've been working on this redesign for several months now and I'm really excited about the direction is taking. We're lucky to have readers who are happy to share their thoughts with us, and the new Digital Scrapbooking will reflect what you've been telling us you'd like to see.

Quick update on e-version of magazine

We've learned that there were two glitches in the e-version of the Dec/Jan issue, and we're taking care of them right away:

* the tumbler template for Pattie Knox's project hasn't yet been uploaded
* there's an incorrect link to "myperfectmirror.com" that should be to myfavoritemirror.com instead. Here's a photo of a project made with the coaster sets My Favorite Mirror offers: isn't it adorable?

We're changing those ASAP; I'll post here again when they're fixed. Thanks for letting us know!

December/January e-version open for subscribers!

Is the dreary fall weather getting you down? Ready for some holiday cheer to lift your spirits? If you're a Digital Scrapbooking subscriber, then you're in luck! Our December 2007/January 2008 issue is now up and running in its electronic format. Check your e-mail box for your personalized invitation!

Subscribing but not getting word when the e-version is posted? We must have your valid e-mail address for you to log in. Contact our Customer Service department to add your e-mail address to your account.

(If you're a newsstand buyer--it'll be just a couple of weeks until you get all the great holiday inspiration available now to our subscribers.)

Ready to celebrate Digital Scrapbooking Day?

The first-ever Digital Scrapbooking Day (sponsored by Triscape, makers of FxFoto photo editing software) is coming up! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 3 and get ready for a crazy day of photo tweaking, layout designing and product sharing.

To celebrate, Digital Scrapbooking Magazine is hosting a layout contest at the photo sharing site Flickr. We're looking for layouts on the theme of "Why I Love Digital Scrapbooking." Upload your own and vote for your favorites--we'll have prizes for the most popular layouts, plus those selected as standouts by our editorial team.

Here's what you'll need to do to enter:

1. If you don't have one already, set up a Flickr account. (It's free, and takes just a few minutes.)
2. Visit our Flickr page and click "Join This Group." Read our simple posting rules and join.
3. Upload photos to your Flickr account. Choose the layout you want to enter and click "Send to Group" to share it with us.
   

Thanks for playing--we can't wait to see your work! (Plus: check out the cute T-shirt designed by 2007 Digital Scrapbooking board member Clara Wallace just for the occasion. April and Jennafer have ordered theirs already!)

They're coming to a land Down Under...

...Stacy Julian, Wendy Smedley, and our own digital diva Renee Pearson, that is! They're bringing Digital Scrapbooking and Simple Scrapbooks' trademark enthusiam and you-can-do-it attitude to their first-ever event in the Southern Hemisphere.

They'll be joining New Zealand scrapbooking celebrity Nic Howard for a total of six education- and inspiration-packed days at the Craft House Crafting Connection in Australia and New Zealand, sponsored by KiwiScraps.

Catch them in Sydney November 9-11 or in Wellington November 16-18. You can

• pick classes from a menu of dozens of offerings (including Renee's digital/hybrid track!),
  
• crop 'til you drop at the Friday night Mega Crop,
  
• mingle with fellow scrapbookers all weekend long, and
  
• get inspired at Stacy's keynote "Scrap Happy" event.

Don't miss this opportunity to meet four dynamic, motivating scrapbookers... and don't forget to send us your pictures! (I wanna go!)

Call for submissions for April/May issue

It's that time again... time to share the best of your work with us! And if you've always dreamed of being a "cover girl," check it out: we're looking for reader photos and layouts to feature front and center on the April/May 2008 issue of Digital Scrapbooking.

So get cracking... or clicking... and start submitting the coolest all-digital or digital/paper hybrid stuff you have! Deadline for all submissions is Monday, October 22nd.

Photo Feature: It's the Little Things
From Grandma's vintage sewing machine to the iPod you got for your birthday, your son's Matchbox car collection to your sister's ever-growing T-shirt wardrobe, life is filled with objects that carry a special meaning. We're looking for layouts featuring beautiful photographs of the material things that make up your world. We'd also love to get your tips on successfully photographing objects from sparkling diamonds to black leather jackets. Submit images saved as high-quality JPEGs, measuring 6" on longest side, no later than Monday, October 22.

T3: Tips, Tricks, Tutorials
You've spoken up... and we've listened! Digital Scrapbooking will now be offering more step-by-step instructions and immediately usable tips than ever before. Look for our info-packed new column, "T3," appearing for the first time in our April/May 2008 issue. You'll find both cutting-edge techniques from our Creative Team and tips and tutorials from our talented readers.

Here's what we're looking for:

• Tips. Have you found a great way to use layer blending modes? A quick fix for less-than-perfect photos? Send us your tips of 50 words or fewer on any digital scrapbooking subject, along with a layout or project that illustrates the tip in action.

• Tricks. Busy scrapbookers are always looking for ways to make scrapbooking quicker and easier. Send us your time- and stress-saving tricks, along with a layout or project that shows how you've used them to create.

• Tutorials. Send us your projects featuring intermediate- to advanced-level techniques, along with complete instructions for achieving the look. (Check out the step-by-step tutorials in our "Kick It Up" column for an idea of what we're looking for.)

Send us your images and instructions no later than Monday, October 22.

Are You Cover Material?
We're looking for simply amazing reader layouts to feature on our cover. For consideration, layout should have a single gorgeous photo--preferably of one person, though a well-composed twosome could work as well--and feature "only with digital" techniques paired with a clean overall design. Photo should reflect the season in which the issue will appear; for this call, we'll be looking for late spring themes and colors. Please submit no more than three layouts to this call. Submissions are due no later than Monday, October 22.

We can't wait to see what you have to share!

Feeling creative? Here's a contest for you!

Epson--makers of some of our favorite scrapbooking goodies--has just announced the CreativeZone Holiday Craft Contest, open from now until October 31.

They're looking for entries in the following categories:

• winter holiday greeting cards
• winter holiday scrapbook pages
• holiday paper craft creations

Each entry must include at least one patterned page from the free downloadable content at Epson's CreativeZone Web site. Check out the papers, coordinating accents, word art and more.

Entries will be judged by a team including Rhonna Farrer, Jessica Sprague and Digital Scrapbooking's own Renee Pearson. First prize in each category is an Epson Stylus Photo R1800 printer--the big daddy that can print borderless 12x12 layouts!--and second prize is an Epson PictureMate Dash printer for on-the-go photo projects. All winning entries will also be featured on the CreativeZone site during the holiday season.

Here's how to enter.

Submit an e-mail to EpsonHolidayContest@walt.com and include the following:

• at least one photograph or scan of the completed winter holiday-themed greeting card, scrapbook page or paper craft
• a detailed list of supplies; step-by-step instructions explaining how the project was created (including any specific techniques used)
• project dimensions.

E-mail attachment files must be in JPEG or TIFF format and 300-500KB in size. Entries must also include the contestant’s full name, mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address. All submissions must be received by October 31, 2007.

Contest submissions must not have been previously published or submitted for other contests or publications. Selected finalists will be required to mail Epson their original projects for final judging; submitted projects will become property of Epson and will not be returned to their owners. Contestants may want to consider creating two of each entry: one to keep, and one to send.

Check out complete details and contest rules here (PDF file--requires Acrobat Reader). Good luck, and happy creating!

Submission preparation info

I had this great question from a commenter:

...On the submission page it says to save our work as a high quality jpeg no larger than 100K. How do you do that? I create all my 12x12 scrapbook pages at 300 dpi. Even after I have flattened my image when I save a jpeg I still have to take the quality all the way down to zero & it's still not 100K. So I guess my question is, do you want a 300 dpi image or is less acceptable? I am a graphic designer but how to make my files 100K w/o saving them at 72 or 100 dpi AND at low quality is beyond me. Could you all shed a little more light on exactly how you want the submission files saved?...

For our submissions review process, we only need low-resolution (72dpi) versions of your layouts. We review them on-screen, so this resolution provides us with plenty of detail. We also don't need the layouts submitted full-size. Submitting a 12x12 original layout as a 6x6 lo-res version works fine for us.

Depending on your photo editing software (I know Photoshop and Photoshop Elements have this feature), you may also have a "Save for Web" command that does a great job of optimizing your image, or making it as small as possible while still maintaining image quality. You should be able to save a 72dpi 6x6 image at 60% or better quality and still get it in under the 100K limit.

If your submission is chosen for publication, we'll ask you to send us a hi-res (but still scaled-down... 8x8 for a 12x12 layout) version of your project.

Don't forget--we also love to see projects such as cards, albums, home decor items or anything else you've used your digital scrapbooking skills to create. For these items, you can submit a clear photograph, sized at approximately 5x7" and saved at 72dpi. If we select a 3-D project from you for publication, we'll ask you to send in your original project for photography. (We'll take extra-special care of it and make sure it returns to you safely as soon as possible.)

Thanks for your question, Anonymous Commenter--we hope to see work from you soon!

Call for submissions for February/March issue

If you've been getting the feeling that love is in the air... it must be because we're planning the February/March issue of Digital Scrapbooking, with a special focus on Valentine's Day and all its romantic accoutrements.

So in addition to our regular "Simply Stunning" and "Kick It Up" galleries, we're putting out the call for layouts about love... all kinds of love! Check it out:

Feature Gallery : The Looks of Love
Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate all kinds of love--from romantic evenings out to tender moments between parent and child. Send us your layouts highlighting love in all its forms... and don't forget to include any special stories or inspiration that give added meaning to your project.

We're looking for something special for "Kick It Up" as well:

Kick It Up: Focus on Brushes
Focus on Brushes: They add shape, texture and interest to layouts. How do you use these versatile tools? Show us your work featuring brushwork techniques from basic to advanced. Include a brief description of how you used brushes on your project. Here are some ideas to inspire you:

* creating custom brushes from photos or scans
* organizing downloaded or purchased brushes
* getting special effects with brush options such as rotation, hardness and scatter

And we're always looking for fresh new eye candy for "Simply Stunning":

Simply Stunning
Send us your layouts on any subject--we'll give special consideration to projects with a seasonal (winter) theme, but all styles and topics are welcome. If there's a special story or inspiration behind your layout, please share that with us as well.

We can't wait to see what you've got to share with us this time! Deadline for all submissions is 11:59:59 (tee hee) p.m., Sunday, August 26. You can submit your work here or, starting Monday, via the Simple Scrapbooks Web site.

Exciting times for digital at CHA

Wow! Our team had a great time at CHA this year, meeting people and seeing new products and chatting about digital scrapbooking with everyone within earshot.

One of the greatest things about this show was seeing how many people--both manufacturers and retailers--are getting really excited about digital and want to know what they can do to market to digital scrapbookers. Retailers want to see you in their stores, and manufacturers want to make products you want to buy. Several companies we talked to are already launching digital versions of their products (Tinkering Ink, Glitz Designs, the companies working with PCLayers) and many others are trying to figure out the best way to get their feet wet with digital.

So--what would you like to see retailers and manufacturers offer you? Companies are ready to listen... what do you have to say?

Call for submissions for Dec/Jan issue

Can you believe it? Summer's not officially here yet, and already visions of sugarplums are dancing in the Digital Scrapbooking team's heads as we start work on our December 2007/January 2008 issue.

Here's what we want to see from you this time:
Winter Traditions and Holidays: from skating on frozen lakes to Christmas in the tropics!
Simply Stunning: showcasing your "eye candy" work
Kick It Up: layouts featuring intermediate- to advanced-level techniques with step-by-step instructions.

Deadline for all calls is June 29, and all calls are open to projects created using any photo editing or scrapbooking software package. Time to get your mouse a-moving!

Congratulations to the Scrappers' Choice winners!

Want to get blown away by some amazing scrapbooking talent? Check out the gallery of work from the winners of DigiShopTalk.com's Scrappers' Choice contest. There are tons of beautiful layouts in a whole range of categories, from "Best Use of Negative Space" to "Best Journaling," plus the overall Best Layout winners: congratulations to Lissy and Ohiotubagal! Get ready to be inspired... and please share the results of your inspiration with us.

Blogging about blogging

(Wow, how meta!)

If you're a blogger or know someone who blogs, here's a series of blog posts you ought to check out. (How many times can I say "blog" in one sentence?)

Connie and Heidi of digiscrapinfo.com discuss setting up a blog, publicizing it via Google, using a blog reader to read the latest posts from your favorite bloggers all in one place and more. Great information all around!

Which brings me to my next point: I'd love to set up a blogroll of the best digital scrapbooking blogs around. Please leave a comment with your recommendations--you can mention your own if you'd like, or let us know who else is doing a great job. I'll review them in the next couple of weeks and start putting together a list.

Announcing the Bag Full of Memories Contest!

Brought to you by SnapTotes and MemoryTrends Magazine... check out these cool bags and this great contest!

SnapTotes and MemoryTrends Magazine present Bag Full of Memories page contest

Show off your pages when you're out and about with a personalized photo bag!

Photo bags are one of the most popular ways to turn a snapshot into a gift. But personalized bags aren't just for photos. Any digital image--such as a digital scrapbook page--­can make a beautiful bag. (Check out Melinda Alexander's layout on the example pictured here!)

The Bag Full of Memories Contest is now accepting entries for the chance to see your digital page on a photo bag by SnapTotes. Winners will receive a bag featuring their pages ($100 value). Name the local scrapbook store where you buy albums and magazines and the store will win a starter sales kit with eight bags (a more than $500 value.) For more information, and to enter, visit www.snaptotes.com/contest. Deadline for entry is June 30, 2007.

For other ideas for using digital designs to create one-of-a kind wearables and accessories, and to see Melinda's layout up close, check out the August/September 2007 issue of Digital Scrapbooking.

Looking for your best work!

It's that time again--the time when we're asking you to submit your best digital and paper/digital-fusion projects for our review and possible inclusion in the October/November issue.

Our submission forms will be up and running at both the Digital Scrapbooking and Simple Scrapbooks sites in a day or two; the deadline for all is Monday, April 16.

Here's what we're looking for this time around:

Simply Stunning
Send us your layouts on any subject—we'll give special consideration to projects with a seasonal (fall) theme, but all styles and topics are welcome. If there's a special story or inspiration behind your layout, please share that with us as well. Submissions are due no later than Monday, April 16.

Kick It Up
Calling all tech-savvy scrappers! We're looking for layouts and projects created with any software package featuring intermediate- to advanced-level techniques. Submissions must include clear instructions to inspire our readers. Send us your images and instructions no later than Monday, April 16.

Scrapbooking Software Roundup
Digital scrapbookers have a huge variety of programs to choose from for creating layouts and projects. We'd like to see what you're doing with the software tools you have available. Submit your layout along with the following information:

• how long you've been scrapbooking digitally
• the name of the program you use, and how long you've been working with it
• your favorite feature of this program
• step-by-step instructions for achieving any special effects or techniques featured in your layout

We'd like to see layouts created with the following software:

• Corel Paint Shop Pro
• LumaPix FotoFusion
• Microsoft Digital Image Suite
• Scrapbook Max!
• ACDSee
• Lasting Impressions MemoryMixer
• Adobe Photoshop Elements
• HP Creative Scrapbook Assistant
• Any other widely available software you're using for digital scrapbooking
  

Submissions are due no later than Monday, April 16.

Thanks for sharing your talents with us! We can't wait to see what you've come up with.

Last day to submit!

Reader submissions for our August/September issue are due by midnight Mountain time tomorrow. Here's what we're looking for, if you need a refresher. And yes, you can submit via our own DigitalScrapbooking.com submissions page now!

Looks like we still have a few questions about subscriptions. To recap: magazines left the printer on the 21st and are now being mailed. You should see yours in your mailbox sometime in the next few weeks--let us know if you've not seen it by March 20 or so. (It should arrive well before that!)

So... what do you think?

New site's up, and we've even had a couple of magazine spottings. Can't wait to hear what you, Dear Reader, think of it all.

(Will it prejudice your opinion if I tell you my husband spent a good half-hour this morning poring over the magazine and pointing out his favorite layouts?)

Help! My subscription has been suspended!

So lots of subscribers have been checking their account status and seeing that it's "suspended." Aack! Are we not going to see our magazines?

No, no... all is well. Here's the skinny from our circulation department:

"If you are checking on your magazine subscription and it says it is "suspended," that's a good thing. "Suspended" means circulation has processed your request for a subscription, that your first magazine will be delivered soon, that your bill will arrive shortly after the first magazine and that once the bill is paid your account will go from "suspended" to active. It's just a routine process to put the second issue on hold until the bill is paid."

So, hey... you heard it here first. All's well... your mag will arrive... and digital scrapbooking will continue to be a positive force in your life.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Show us your work!

We've just posted our calls for submissions for the Aug/Sept issue... exciting stuff. This issue has a special fashion focus, and one of the calls reflects that--other than that, we're always looking for stuff that's seasonal, meaningful and just plain swell.

For this issue, subs are still being taken through the Simple Scrapbooks form. Head on over there, scroll down to the calls and send us your best stuff.

Here's what we're looking for:

Reader Gallery: Send us your layouts on any subject—we'll give special consideration to projects with a seasonal (back-to-school or fall) theme, but all styles and topics are welcome. If there's a special story or inspiration behind your layout, please share that with us as well. Submissions are due no later than Thursday, March 1.

Fashion Flashback: Do you remember your favorite party dress from childhood... the cute pair of jeans you wore all through high school... the bikini that caught your husband-to-be's eye at the beach? What about the darling sailor suit your son wore as a baby or the silk dress your mother pulled out of the closet for every night out with your dad? We're looking for layouts that celebrate the link between special clothes and special memories. Whether it's a purse or a prom dress, a necklace or a necktie, show us the role fashion has played in shaping your life. Send us your design-conscious digital layouts with journaling that tells the story behind your favorite fashion-related memories. Submissions are due no later than Thursday, March 1.

Kick It Up: Calling all tech-savvy scrappers! We're looking for layouts featuring intermediate- to advanced-level techniques with clear step-by-step instructions to inspire our readers. Send us your layouts and instructions no later than Thursday, March 1. Please note that layouts submitted for this call can only be considered if they include complete tutorial instructions and a full materials list that includes your application and any third party extras (filters, actions, textures, brushes etc.) that you used. See here for the kind of step-by-step information we're looking for.

Please submit all work saved as high-quality JPEG files, no larger than 100K each, and include complete materials lists for all. We also ask that you submit each layout in a separate email. Please submit no more than five such emails per call category.

Here comes the first issue! Plus some As to your Qs

Please see end of post for updates from our circulation department.

Wow! The first issue is coming off the presses next week. We've all worked so hard to get this to happen and now the day is finally almost here. It's a relief and kind of a scary thing at the same time... like sending your child off to college and hoping she'll do a good job. Can't wait to hear what everyone thinks of the magazine once it's in your hands.

And when will that be, you ask? Our estimate for subscriber delivery dates is around February 21 or 22. Post here when you get yours and we'll see how quickly the USPS is scattering the Digital love around the world.

A couple of you have had questions about the subscription process. Here are the answers I've come up with so far:

How many issues are in a subscription? Six. We're publishing bimonthly, just like Simple Scrapbooks does, and we're alternating months--so you'll have a fresh source of inspiration every month!

How much for a Canadian/foreign subscription? Just add $6 to the overall price for a subscription in Canada or $10 for one in any other non-U.S. country--still a great deal.

Edited to add: Some subscribers have called our office to find out when the first issue would be mailed and told it would not be until April or May. Although the cover date of this issue is April/May, it IS leaving the printer next week and mailing out immediately. Also, several commenters have mentioned not yet receiving a bill for their subscriptions. I've contacted our subscriptions manager to find out when those bills will be mailed and will post here as soon as I find out. Thanks for your patience!

Edited again to add: I've just heard back from our circulation department with answers to all our questions! Invoices for subscriptions will be mailed about one week after the first issue ships, so subscribers should be starting to see bills around March 1st or so in the U.S., a little later in other countries. If you want to check and make sure your subscription actually processed (like maybe if you haven't seen your first issue by March 5th or so?), you can contact our circulation department to check: 877-300-0265 or DigitalScrapbooking@palmcoastd.com.

Let me know if there's anything else I can answer for you! And keep an eye out for our all-new Web site... coming soon.

How decorative!

Oh man... this is killing me! We're running a feature in the June/July issue on home decor projects created with digital tools/techniques... and these things are so lovely I just wish I could share them with you already.

It's so hard to keep a really, really good secret!

My Boys

Shot this in our family room last week with the Photobasics kit from Westcott: two lights, a couple of backdrops and a positioning mat (which I didn't use here) all in one easy-to-use package. We're profiling it in the April/May issue of Digital Scrapbooking.

(No, Fisher's not really wounded. Apparently, "[he] was playing with a pen in math class and Mrs. Z. called [his] name and [he] looked up really fast and the pen just went all along the side of [his] face." Uh-huh. And this "accidental" mark proved the perfect accessory for playing Pirates at recess later...)