8/28/26 – Fresh Baked Friday @ GingerScraps Plus an Announcement

August 28, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Hey there, scrappy friends! Can you believe we’re at the last Friday in August? I’m so excited to be starting the “ber” months next week! I’m all about fall and all things pumpkin.

We’re already starting to see those beautiful fall colors make their way into the new Fresh Baked releases, and I’m loving it!

The end of August also brings the end of our Summer Scrap-A-Thon. There are still a few days left to complete your challenges and get them recorded, so don’t miss your chance!

And we also have a very special announcement below that you’re definitely going to want to see.

Remember, spend $10 in the store and get this beautiful collab for free.

Now time for the fun new kits in our store this week.

Wonderful News About Neia!
We have a wonderful update to share about our friend and GingerScraps designer, Neia of Neia Scraps!
After 15 days in the hospital following her brain hemorrhage, Neia is finally home!
Even better, her doctors have confirmed that she did not suffer any neurological damage. Her movement, speech, and cognitive abilities are all intact, which is such wonderful news!
She still has some healing ahead of her, including headaches and pain, follow-up appointments, and additional testing. Her doctor has also asked her to take 30 days away from work and strenuous activities while she recovers.
Neia says she is already really missing creating and hopes to slowly return to some of her projects as she feels able.
She also wanted me to pass along a huge THANK YOU to everyone in our GingerScraps community who sent prayers, messages, love, and encouragement while she was in the hospital. She said your support meant more to her than she can put into words.
Let’s keep those prayers and good thoughts coming as Neia continues to heal!
And don’t forget, the 60% OFF Neia Scraps Support Sale continues through August 31, including all Personal Use and CU products.
[SHOP NEIA SCRAPS]

PU Shop Link: https://store.gingerscraps.net/Neia-Scraps/ CU Shop Link:https://store.gingerscraps.net/Neia-Scraps-CU/

Are you working on your challenges? If you complete any 10 challenges this month, you get this gorgeous collab (or a variety of other choices from previous challenge collabs) as a reward!

The SUMMER Scrap-A-Thon! is almost over. This is a relaxed and inspiring scrapping event with no pressure, no sign-ups, and no voting. Just scrap at your own pace, encourage one another, and have fun together in the forum. The whole event is built around our beloved Monthly Challenges throughout August, making it the perfect way to stay motivated and creative all month long.

Be sure to scroll down for all the exciting details and a peek at the AMAZING Mega Collab created by our talented GingerBread Ladies that you can earn during the month of August. Trust us, it is absolutely gorgeous! There are tons of rewards and prizes, and it is a super fun event you will not want to miss. We cannot wait to scrap along with you!

Filed Under: Digital Scrapbooking, Fresh Baked, GingerBread Ladies Tagged With: , ,

Tutorial Tuesday (Photoshop Elements)

August 25, 2026 by 4 Comments

Greatest Hits: Complex Shadows – Jan’s Method

Today I want to revisit this tutorial from 2019 because the tutorial I’m working on for you right now will lean HEAVILY on complex custom shadows. Rather than reinvent the wheel, listing all the steps in great detail, I felt it would be worthwhile to post this review so you can start thinking about the process. That way the new tut will flow much nicer. 😉 Onward!

Shadows are what turns a 2-dimensional image into what looks 3-dimensional. They definitely make or break a layout. If you’ve played around with the recap tutorial from a couple of weeks ago, you’re probably ready to spread your wings and get into complex shadows. I’m not going to get into the actual 5 step-process, since that’s already been covered. Here I’ll show you how to use that Smudge tool to make your shadows even more realistic where your elements are sitting on top of other elements. For my layout, I used some of the template’s drop shadows, as you can see below. But for most of the layout I’ve customized my own shadows, starting with the ivy leaves shown here.

The trick to using the Smudge tool effectively without messing up (much) is to make use of the [ (smaller) and ] (larger) keys to grow or shrink your cursor, and to use the crosshairs inside the cursor as your reference point. Where you only want to move a very small area of your shadow, make your cursor small then position the crosshairs at the edge of the area you want to move. Using very slight movements, push or pull, depending on where you want to move the shadow – push close, pull away. Then when you’ve got what looks right to your eye, add your Gaussian Blur filter.

If you choose to change the Blend Mode to Linear Burn (or Multiply, Color Burn or whatever), make sure you do that before you decrease your Opacity. If you do it in reverse, next time you go to nudge an element with the Arrow keys, all that will happen is the software will scroll through the Blend Modes, not move your object!! (How do I know?? Lots of practice at CTRL/CMD>Z!!)

Let’s see what happens to this burlap flower. It’s overlapping the flair, some paper and a leaf.

I decided the burlap was quite stiff, so there wouldn’t be a lot of lift at the ends of the petals. It’s literally laying on top of the edge of the flair, so there isn’t much shadow cast there. But where it overlaps the leaf, I gave the petals just a hint of a curve.

The final shadow isn’t too obvious. I always look at the entire element when I’m adjusting the Opacity so I don’t lose it, but also to ensure it looks natural.

This little flower adds some new opportunities. The shadow should run under the gold flower, which is above it in the stack.

But the shadow should also be a bit closer to the petal itself where it overlays the bigger flower beneath it. Where the petals could be curved away from the paper, the shadow can be farther away.

Did you know that Elements will remember the settings you used for your Gaussian Blur filter? It’s a great step-saver when you’re shadowing a lot of similar things, like flowers and leaves, to use the keyboard shortcut CTRL/CMD>F – automatically blurring your shadow to the same amount as the previous one.

This is a tricky one. I put two flowers one on top of the other and rotated the top one to make the flower fuller. So there will also be two shadow layers. The shadow on the upper layer will be more visible, and will need a bit more pushing and pulling that the ones we’ve already looked at.

The white arrows show where I’ve used the Smudge tool to PUSH the shadow away from the centre while the red arrows show where I’ve PULLED the shadow toward the centre.

In this screenshot you can see the end result of the blur-blend-fade process for the topmost flower. And the shadow layer for the bottom is there too.

The burlap underneath could make demands, but nothing we can’t handle!

Done!

Again, the shadowing is subtle but effective.

Now for the burlap rosette. It’s a softer-looking element than the multi-petaled burlap flower. See if you can figure out what I’m going to do to customize this one.

Did you figure it out? Are you starting to see how different objects will cast a different shadow?

There will be more depth to the shadow at the lower edge where there’s a gap created by the little aqua flower.

On to the gold flower. It’s overlaying several other objects.

Take a close look at where the shadow touches the leaf on the far left. See how I’ve brought the shadow in really close where it’s touching the leaf, but let it stay farther away where there’s a gap between the flower and the paper underneath?

Ta-da!

This one was an easy one. I pushed in close to the centre of the word strip to make it look glued down there but loose at the ends. Be sure to change the size of your Smudger to BIG when you’re curving paper like this so you get a smooth arc. I created a little mock-up of what the Smudge tool‘s cursor looks like. (Of course, it won’t be red when you’re working, it’ll be black.) Remember, the [ key makes your tool smaller, the ] makes it bigger. That crosshair is SO useful!

Blurred, blended and faded. Take note, the blur isn’t quite as soft here as it is with the flowers because the edges are sharper, so the shadow should be sharper. This one is 2.5 pixels.

Ah yes, stickers! The shadow will be very tight, but there’s still room for some tweaking.

I pushed it a little closer where it’s crossing the edge of the thicker paper.

Now there’s a hint of distance where the sticker comes off the thicker paper. Subtle… When you see my finished layout in the Gallery you’ll see that I’ve also used the Burn tool to give the illusion of the edge of the thicker paper showing through onto the sticker itself.

This one is a single layer of the aqua daisy. It’s got some challenges!

The white arrows show where I’ve PUSHED the shadow away from the centre, the red arrows where I’ve PULLED it toward the centre.

But wait! Where the ripples in the bottlecap touch the petal, the shadow has to be thinner. I [[[[ my cursor down to tiny to make this look more natural. Look too at the leaf.

Blur, blend, fade.

This is another challenge where the burlap petals touch the twine.

Again, I think the burlap has been stiffened a bit, so not a lot of curving petals.

I hope these examples are giving you some insight into how shadows are cast.

Did you think I’d leave out the bottlecap? Heck no!!

Where the crimps touch the object below, the shadow is thin, where the crimps curve away from the object below, the shadow bellies out a bit.

I love how this looks!

Last but not least, this knot needs attention. It’s a heavyweight, so the shadow won’t be too far away in most places, depending on what it’s touching.

White arrows – PUSHED away, red arrows – PULLED in.

And there you have it!

Do you think you’ll be ready to start creating your own custom shadows now? I hope so!!

(Credits are in the Gallery… too many different kits to list them all here!)

Hey! At the end of the week it’ll be the TENTH anniversary of my very first tutorial here. I can’t believe it!

 

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Digital Scrapbooking, Tutorials Tagged With:

8/21/26 – Fresh Baked Friday @ Gingerscraps Plus an Announcement

August 21, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Welcome to another Friday at Gingerscraps. We have so many new items in the store, featured products, the continuation of our Summer Scrap-a-Thon, and a special announcement below.

Remember, spend $10 in the store and get this beautiful collab for free.

Let’s start with the new products in the store.

We have some difficult news to share about our friend and GingerScraps designer, Neia of Neia Scraps.

Last week, Neia suffered a brain hemorrhage and has been in the hospital ever since. She is still undergoing tests and being closely monitored by her doctors, and unfortunately, she doesn’t know yet when she’ll be able to go home or return to work.
Because she is unable to work right now, we wanted to find a way for our GingerScraps community to come together and support her while she focuses on healing.

For a limited time, we’re having a special sale on Neia Scraps designs. Your purchase will give you some beautiful new goodies while also helping Neia during this difficult time. If you’ve enjoyed Neia’s designs or simply want to show one of our GingerScraps family members a little extra love, we hope you’ll join us.

Please keep Neia in your thoughts and send her lots of love and encouragement as she works toward getting better!
Thank you, as always, for being such an amazing community.

PU Shop Link: https://store.gingerscraps.net/Neia-Scraps/
CU Shop Link:https://store.gingerscraps.net/Neia-Scraps-CU/

Are you working on your challenges? If you complete any 10 challenges this month, you get this gorgeous collab (or a variety of other choices from previous challenge collabs) as a reward!

Also in August, we have our SUMMER Scrap-A-Thon! This is a relaxed and inspiring scrapping event with no pressure, no sign-ups, and no voting. Just scrap at your own pace, encourage one another, and have fun together in the forum. The whole event is built around our beloved Monthly Challenges throughout August, making it the perfect way to stay motivated and creative all month long.

Be sure to scroll down for all the exciting details and a peek at the AMAZING Mega Collab created by our talented GingerBread Ladies that you can earn during the month of August. Trust us, it is absolutely gorgeous! There are tons of rewards and prizes, and it is a super fun event you will not want to miss. We cannot wait to scrap along with you!
Filed Under: Digital Scrapbooking, Fresh Baked, GingerBread Ladies Tagged With: , ,

Tutorial Tuesday (Individual Style)

August 18, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Challenge Spotlight: My Memories

It’s that time again! Your time to be in the Spotlight… This month’s Challenge is the My Memories Challenge hosted by Neia Scraps. If you’re new to GingerScraps’ Challenges, each month the site runs about 30-ish new Challenges, each with their own Challenge criteria. There truly is something for everyone, as evidenced by the number of layouts posted to the Challenge Galleries. There are LOTS! Each Challenge has its own Gallery, with space for viewers to leave comments. Each month there’s a Challenge Reward – a full-sized kit created by the GingerBread Ladies – that is awarded to everyone who hits 10 new layouts posted to the Galleries since the Scrapper‘s last Challenge Reward. August is also GingerScraps‘ semi-annual Scrapathon. More about that at the end of the post. Each month I do a Gallery sweep and put some Challenge layouts in the Spotlight. I look at each to see how closely the Challenge‘s instructions are met, and point out some features that might otherwise go overlooked. I don’t play favourites though. And each layout is hyperlinked to the Gallery by the Scrapper‘s user name so you can take a closer look, maybe leave a comment, you know… community things. Any time you see something in bold coloured text that is also underlined, that tells you there’s a hyperlink attached. Now let’s talk about the My Memories Challenge. 

Here are Neia‘s instructions:

Theme: Strength
Keyword ideas: strength, brave, still standing, endure Inner strength, resilience, or showing up even when it was hard.
The Challenge: Create one layout inspired by this month’s theme. A place, a feeling, or anything that makes you feel grounded.
The Keyword (Required)
Your layout must include one keyword connected to the theme.

  • The keyword should be clearly visible and a main focal point.
  • You can create it using:
    • A title
    • Word art
    • Alphabet letters
    • Templates

Any style, size, or placement is welcome — as long as the word stands out.
Add the credits for the product you used.

The following layouts can be found in the My Memories Gallery.

Our first layout is by Katherine Woodin. Katherine is a dedicated Scrapper who uses digiscrapping as a daily diary, so she appears in every Spotlight. 😉 I’d say the word “strength” is pretty visible, and I love that she took a selfie. Her layout is well-balanced, with the large floral cluster forming an X with her photo and “journaling blank” book, tied together with a ribbon. Rehabbing a bad shoulder is a lot of work; congratulations, Katherine!

Sandra B‘s layout is one I can identify with. I’m not a fan of heights either, but that’s not why I didn’t kiss the Blarney Stone when I had the chance… I’m also not a fan of stairs. Especially 15th century stone stairs. 😀 I knew instantly what was happening in her centrepiece photo. Did you? Strength of mind for sure!

The title of dhariana‘s layout translates to “Virgin most powerful, pray for us“. It’s an ancient Marian prayer for strength and protection. A bit obscure, but definitely meets the Challenge, amirite? The prayer card and praying angel element promote the theme.

Faith is also central to this layout by demma_b13. My brain is interpreting all sorts of things from her choice of elements but I don’t think I should expand on that. There’s a purposeful circle in the way she’s arranged her layout, moving the eye around on a defined path.

AlyciaIN implies strength by referring to a five-decade-long marriage. I love her choices here, and how perfectly they complement the story she’s telling. Her subtitle is a touch of whimsy.

I feel seen!! Here, greenfiend27 is also implying strength indirectly, and those comics are perfection. Her layout is clean and simple, and her title/journaling very descriptive.

What a message! What first caught my eye when I saw dkane‘s layout was the colour palette. It’s perfection! Then I read her journaling and subtitle – which led to to really looking at the photos. Transitions are everywhere! And self-acceptance is a strong theme too. Awesome!

That photo. It grabbed me first. Then I read the journaling. Gahhh! If art journaling was ever the absolute best choice for a layout, it’s one about losing a beloved pet. For her layout, lebjs successfully blended more traditional scrapping with art journaling to acknowledge her husband’s courage in choosing to say goodbye.

One needs not be brave to be strong, but it’s necessary to be strong to be brave. That’s what I think angbrey is saying with her pretty doodles and matching floral cluster.

Daydreamer‘s layout is an intensely personal one, which led to her concealing the identities of her subjects. Resilience is a facet of strength, maybe the most important facet. Surviving a difficult experience is one thing, coming out of it “better” is quite another. Going off on a tangent, I think she’s chosen the paper behind her photos perfectly – it immediately reminded me of the countless hospital gowns I’ve seen in my life. 😉

Now to wrap it up… Scrapathon. Twice a year, the Challenges take on a new lustre. If you complete 10 in any month. you win the Challenge Reward.

But during Scrapathon, if you complete them all, you win a mega-collab collection!

<channels Ferris Bueller> Are you still here? Why are you still here? Go on… check out the Challenges!!

 

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Challenge Spotlight, Creative Style, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Tutorials Tagged With:

8/14/26 – Fresh Baked Friday @ Gingerscraps

August 14, 2026 by 1 Comment

Happy Friday fellow scrappers. I hope you have all had an amazing week. Our schools started back this week and I know there will be a lot of photos taken to scrap.

Remember, spend $10 in the store and get this beautiful collab for free.

Let’s see what our designers are releasing this week.

Are you working on your challenges? If you complete any 10 challenges this month, you get this gorgeous collab (or a variety of other choices from previous challenge collabs) as a reward!

Also in August, we have our SUMMER Scrap-A-Thon! This is a relaxed and inspiring scrapping event with no pressure, no sign-ups, and no voting. Just scrap at your own pace, encourage one another, and have fun together in the forum. The whole event is built around our beloved Monthly Challenges throughout August, making it the perfect way to stay motivated and creative all month long.

Be sure to scroll down for all the exciting details and a peek at the AMAZING Mega Collab created by our talented GingerBread Ladies that you can earn during the month of August. Trust us, it is absolutely gorgeous! There are tons of rewards and prizes, and it is a super fun event you will not want to miss. We cannot wait to scrap along with you!
Filed Under: Digital Scrapbooking, Fresh Baked, GingerBread Ladies Tagged With: , ,

8/7/26 – Retirement Sale Starts Now – Save 65% + See What’s New

August 7, 2026 by 1 Comment

Hello GingerScrappers,

This week is packed with amazing deals and exciting new products, and you won’t want to miss a single thing. Here’s what’s happening right now at GingerScraps:

Summer Retiring Products Sale – It’s time to make room for new goodies! From August 7–13, save 65% off a huge selection of retiring products. These items will be removed from the shop when the sale ends, so be sure to grab your favorites before they’re gone for good.

Brand New Releases Are Here – We’ve also just added a fresh batch of brand new products to the shop. Whether you’re looking for seasonal kits, fun templates, or beautiful elements, there’s something for everyone.

Head over to the shop now and treat yourself to all the deals, steals, and fresh new finds.

Happy scrapping!

Remember, spend $10 in the store and get this beautiful collab for free.

And now the beautiful new additions to the shop this week.

Are you working on your challenges? If you complete any 10 challenges this month, you get this gorgeous collab (or a variety of other choices from previous challenge collabs) as a reward!

Also in August, we have our SUMMER Scrap-A-Thon! This is a relaxed and inspiring scrapping event with no pressure, no sign-ups, and no voting. Just scrap at your own pace, encourage one another, and have fun together in the forum. The whole event is built around our beloved Monthly Challenges throughout August, making it the perfect way to stay motivated and creative all month long.

Be sure to scroll down for all the exciting details and a peek at the AMAZING Mega Collab created by our talented GingerBread Ladies that you can earn during the month of August. Trust us, it is absolutely gorgeous! There are tons of rewards and prizes, and it is a super fun event you will not want to miss. We cannot wait to scrap along with you!

Filed Under: Digital Scrapbooking, Fresh Baked, GingerBread Ladies, sales Tagged With: , , ,

Designer Spotlight: August 2026

August 4, 2026 by 1 Comment

Connie Prince

It’s been awhile since I had a chat with Connie Prince, although she pops into the Spotlight fairly often. I think most of us already know her and her design work, so we didn’t spend much time on the work angle. Here’s how our visit went.

J: Connie! It’s been a minute. How are you? I know you’ve had some not-so-happy times recently so let’s not go there. How about a softball… what are your favourite/not favourite colours?

C: I love primary, bold colors. Pastels are my least favorite!

J: Pastels can be quite insipid, and if you don’t like them, it’s really hard to make them work for you. You do bold primaries very well, so don’t change! Honestly, you set quite a pace with your designing, I don’t know how you do it. What do you do for you?

C: I play piano and it soothes my soul so much!

J: Music is such a wonderful form of expression, and can evoke all the moods. I enjoy having it playing, even when I’m in the shower. Thankfully, I’ve got good antiskid strips in there. Lord knows where I could end up when I get right into it. Do you sing, or maybe dance in the shower?

C: Definitely dance!

J: Getting a workout in while taking care of hygiene… great multitasking! What would you do if you won the lottery?

C: Travel, travel, & travel some more!

J: I haven’t been anywhere special in a long time. Travelling with our son is quite challenging, so we tend to stay put. But when we’re not on fire, there’s so much to see and do around here, it’s not such a bad thing. What does your dream vacation look like?

C: Anywhere tropical works for me!

J: Not for me. Must be my Scandinavian and Irish genes coming through. As long as I’m not expected to eat herring….. Oh, I had some absolutely scrumptious Irish-style fish and chips the other day. I could eat that all the time. If you had to choose, what would you want on your plate every day?

C: Steak and salad

J: I do enjoy a good steak. If only beef wasn’t so darned expensive. I need to find a farmer who’ll sell it to me without the middle man. Win-win! But I’d need to get over my aversion for making those kinds of contacts. Do you have any trait that you’d change if you could?

C: I would love to master the art of being patient. I’m working on it, but it is for sure a big struggle!

J: Patience I have. No one believes I’m as introverted as I am. Sigh. Most people see me as self-assured and confident. I’m really not. How would your friends and family describe you?

C: Loyal.

J: That’s a wonderful thing to be! there are so many other adjectives that are loyal-adjacent that probably also fit. If you could have a super power, what would you choose and why?

C: Manipulate time, I’d definitely make use of that one!

J: That would be pretty handy. Speed through the bad things, slow down the good things. Maybe go back and do some things differently. I see the benefits! I don’t think I’d want to see the future though. Life moves too fast as it is. Aside from necessities, is there anything you couldn’t live without?

C: My phone!

J: Hahahaha! Me too! My friend accidentally left her personal phone and her work phone on top of her car after work the other day. She got about half a block when she heard them fall off. Her work phone was totally fine… and she spent most of her day off replacing her personal one. Speaking of phones, I’m sorry mine keeps pinging with news about our wildfire situation. I’m going to have to go through them soon. Thanks for chatting! I’m not going to keep you in this smoky air any longer. Have a great Spotlight!!

Have you seen Connie‘s Daily Download? (I mean, of course you have. It’s right here on the Blog…)

But maybe you haven’t checked out Connie‘s regular monthly #2026 Challenge. She creates a mini-kit for that one every month!

Then, of course, she’s also hosting the other Designer Spotlight Challenge for August. And she has a sale too.

I hope you’ve budgeted for this!

 

 

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Daily Download, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Feature Designer, GingerBread Ladies, Product/Designer Spotlight Tagged With:

Designer Spotlight: August 2026

August 3, 2026 by 1 Comment

CarolW Designs

Our first Spotlight Designer for August is CarolW Designs. I had planned this conversation for yesterday, but ended up a little preoccupied by three wildfires that popped up in our area on Saturday. The evacuation notifications were coming thick and fast. We’re fine, not at risk from them other than some ash and a lot of smoke in the air, but my mind was definitely elsewhere yesterday. Carol was most accommodating. 😉 She’s quite chatty, as you may remember from her first Spotlight awhile back. A little insider info: the Designers have a long list of topics provided and they choose what we talk about. (I want them comfortable with sharing themselves with us.) So let’s get into it!

J: Carol, it’s nice to chat with you again! Shall we talk work first? I know we’ve covered this before, but let’s review. Is there a story behind your brand name?

C: Actually, I don’t have an English name. But Carol is the name given to me by my high school English teacher. I have been using it ever since. The “W” stands for the last letter of my surname – WEN. It also represents the feeling that my design is wonderful.

J: I remember you saying that last time too. Do you have a favourite colour or palette that you love to work with?

C: I really like purple. So when I see the purple color scheme, I will stay for a long time.

J: I love purple too! Just bought a purple tank top the other day. I choose to ignore those people who say women of a certain age and with a certain body type shouldn’t wear sleeveless tops. It’s too hot here in the summer! So is there a design element or style that you’re really attracted to but haven’t tried yet?

C: Chaotic line style. Hand-drawn style! ~ I’ve always wanted to try it. But I’m still in the exploration stage.

J: OMG! I think that would be a great addition to your style of design. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!! Now, I know how I define your design style, but I’d like to know what three words you’d use to describe what you do.

C: Beautiful. Exquisite. Traditional.

J: So we’re on the same page. Do you have a favourite season or holiday you like to create for? Bonus points if purple can be featured. 😀

C: I like the collections for summer and autumn. Because I have always loved these two seasons!

J: Well, they each lend themselves to both your particular style AND purple. What do you enjoy most about being part of the GingerScraps community?

C: Friend. I want to be friends with all the community members. Maybe we can’t meet in person, but we are friends!

J: I’ve always said that GingerScraps is the FRIENDLIEST digital scrapbooking community there is. I’ve been involved with quite a number of them, so I’m qualified to make that assessment. 😉 Can you share any sneak peeks or hints about what you might have planned for the coming months?

C: There will be monthly series coming up. And I’m also working on a series about giving something to my mother!

J: I just love monthly series! I’ve been collecting them from different Designers whose work I particularly admire. Can’t wait! Okay, enough about business. Tell me about Carol… if you could have any animal – real or imaginary – for a pet, what would it be?

C: Nine-tailed Fox. I really enjoy mythology. In ancient Chinese mythology, there is an animal that symbolizes good luck – the Nine-Tailed Fox.

J: Who couldn’t use some guaranteed good luck? Since you mentioned mythology, if you could time travel, would you? Would you go into the future, or back into the past?

C: I want to go back to the ancient times. Go and see the dinosaurs!! Jurassic!!

J: Take your Nine-Tailed Fox with you for protection. Is there a skill you’d love to pick up instantly?

C: Driving. Because of my car accident, I still haven’t dared to start learning to drive up to now. But I think I need this skill.

J: My mom didn’t learn to drive until she was 41 years old, so it can be done. PTSD is real… Don’t let fear make your choices. How do you unwind after a busy day?

C: Lying on the sofa, eating snacks and watching TV.

J: Yes! I don’t lie down but there’s nothing better than snacking in front of the TV. What’s your guilty pleasure?

C: Batman. I really love this series of movies. I love Gotham City!

J: Oh, dark! I’ve been gobbling up all the true crime lately. Goodness. Is that the time?! I need to make supper for the guys already!! They can wait a few minutes while I wrap up. Carol is providing us with one of the Daily Download kits for this month, and it looks like this:

Coincidentally, she also hosts the Daily Download Challenge each month, as well as the Inspiration Challenge. And, of course, this month she’s also hosting one of the Designer Spotlight Challenges. Make sure you have a look! But there’s more… a coupon!

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to play along with the Challenges AFTER you visit Carol’s Store.

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Daily Download, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Feature Designer, GingerBread Ladies, Product/Designer Spotlight Tagged With:

August 1 2026: New Buffet, Scrap-a-Thon, Designer News and SO MUCH MORE!

August 1, 2026 by Leave a Comment
Hello August and hello scrappy friends! A brand new month is here, and you know what that means at GingerScraps. Fresh inspiration, beautiful new goodies, and so many fun reasons to play with your photos and tell your stories.
This month is packed with everything you love. A brand new Free With Purchase collab, a gorgeous new Monthly Mix, and a colorful new Buffet filled with kits ready to spark your creativity. We also have a whole new batch of AMAZING challenges waiting for you in the forum, along with a brand new reward you can earn by completing just 10 challenges this month. PLUS today begins our SUMMER Scrap-A-Thon! See below for more details.
And that’s not all. Please help us give a big GingerScraps welcome to our two new Feature Designers, CarolW Designs and Designs by Connie Prince. They will be filling the blog with freebies EVERY day, giving you even more reasons to stop by, get inspired, and scrap along with us all month long.
August is here and Summer is almost over. We cannot wait to see what you create!

*A brand new Free With Purchase collab
*A gorgeous new Monthly Mix
*A colorful new Buffet that has a great mix of kits
…and so much more!

 

Next let’s look at the August Buffet. Don’t forget to check out the Buffet Bundles. One easy click to add bundles of Buffet goodies to your cart.

I know I say this every month but I just love these colors. Those pinks just pop out at me.

Sunwashed is a beautifully nostalgic collaboration inspired by the gentle beauty of a summer well lived. Softened by time and kissed by the sun, this collection features weathered wood, vintage postcards, wildflowers, sea glass, and the golden glow of long summer afternoons. Muted, sun-bleached tones and richly textured details create a relaxed, timeless feel that evokes treasured memories and carefree days. Whether you’re documenting beach vacations, quiet moments outdoors, family traditions, or the simple joys of summer, Sunwashed adds warmth, character, and vintage charm to every page.

This collab includes: 1 Alpha {Uppercase, Lowercase, Numbers & Punctuation}, 49 Papers, and 90 Elements.

This Free With Purchase was created by J. Conlon and Sons, JB Studio, Jumpstart Designs, and Kristmess.

Zoo-per Day! celebrates the excitement, wonder, and laughter of an unforgettable trip to the zoo. Filled with playful animals, zoo-inspired accents, and fun adventure themed elements, this collection is perfect for preserving memories of family outings and wildlife encounters. From majestic lions and towering giraffes to curious monkeys and colorful birds, Zoo-per Day! captures the joy of exploring the animal kingdom together. Whether you’re scrapping a day at the zoo, a safari park adventure, or simply celebrating your love of animals, this kit is packed with everything you need to tell your wildest stories.

This kit includes: 1 Alpha {Uppercase, Lowercase, Numbers & Punctuation}, 57 Papers, and 102 Elements.

This Monthly Mix was created by Angelle Designs, Neia Scraps, Twin Mom Scraps, WM[squared] Designs, and Wetfish Designs.

August’s Daily Download is provided by CarolW Designs and Designs by Connie Prince. Stop by the blog each day in June to collect pieces of these beautiful kits.

We are very excited to announce that GS Creations is staying on as a permanent designer at Gingerscraps. Let’s welcome her to the family!

Take a look at the new challenge reward kit. If you complete any 10 challenges this month, you get this gorgeous collab (or a variety of other choices from previous challenge collabs) as a reward!

In The Forest invites you to slow down and explore the peaceful beauty of nature. Inspired by woodland trails, towering trees, and life beneath the forest canopy, this collaboration is filled with forest animals, hiking gear, camping essentials, rustic woodland accents, and natural scenery. Whether you’re documenting camping trips, scenic hikes, wildlife encounters, or quiet moments spent outdoors, In The Forest provides everything you need to preserve your favorite adventures. Rich natural details and earthy charm make this collection perfect for celebrating the beauty of the great outdoors.

This kit includes: 2 Alphas {Uppercase, Numbers & Punctuation}, 42 Papers, and 72 Elements.

This Challenge Reward was created by Aprilisa Designs, CathyK Designs, and Lisa Rosa Designs.

Also in August, we have our SUMMER Scrap-A-Thon! This is a relaxed and inspiring scrapping event with no pressure, no sign-ups, and no voting. Just scrap at your own pace, encourage one another, and have fun together in the forum. The whole event is built around our beloved Monthly Challenges throughout August, making it the perfect way to stay motivated and creative all month long.

Be sure to scroll down for all the exciting details and a peek at the AMAZING Mega Collab created by our talented GingerBread Ladies that you can earn during the month of August. Trust us, it is absolutely gorgeous! There are tons of rewards and prizes, and it is a super fun event you will not want to miss. We cannot wait to scrap along with you!
Filed Under: Buffet, Daily Download, Digital Scrapbooking, GingerBread Ladies, Scrap-a-thon Tagged With: , , , ,

Fresh Baked Friday – July 31 2026

July 31, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Happy Friday!

It’s time to say goodbye to July—this year is moving so fast!

Be sure to check out the new items in the shop, along with this month’s Free with Purchase kit and the Monthly Mix. There are lots of great additions you won’t want to miss.

It’s also time to wrap up your July challenges and get ready for the Summer Scrap-a-thon! Be sure to scroll down for all the details and get ready for another fun event.

Happy scrapping!

Remember if you spend $10 in the store, you get this great kit for free.

Now for what is new in the shop!

It’s time to wrap up your July challenges and get ready for the fun in August!! August is Summer Scrap-a-thon time.

If you complete any 10 challenges this month, you get this gorgeous collab (or a variety of other choices from previous challenge collabs) as a reward!

Coming up in August (starting tomorrow), we have our SUMMER Scrap-A-Thon! This is a relaxed and inspiring scrapping event with no pressure, no sign-ups, and no voting. Just scrap at your own pace, encourage one another, and have fun together in the forum. The whole event is built around our beloved Monthly Challenges throughout August, making it the perfect way to stay motivated and creative all month long.

Be sure to scroll down for all the exciting details and a peek at the AMAZING Mega Collab created by our talented GingerBread Ladies that you can earn during the month of August. Trust us, it is absolutely gorgeous! There are tons of rewards and prizes, and it is a super fun event you will not want to miss. We cannot wait to scrap along with you!
Filed Under: Digital Scrapbooking, Fresh Baked, GingerBread Ladies, Scrap-a-thon Tagged With: , , ,
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