“Beautiful Love” by Debbie Layden
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

Sometimes the coolest tricks are SO simple. Ursula has some beautiful papers in the Red Lily Collection Biggie. I just had to use them, but I didn’t want to make the layout too busy. First, I layered the photograph between two sheets of paper. Then, I lowered the opacity on the top paper so that I could see the hand and toes. Next, I used Brush Set: Beautiful Distress as an eraser and removed part of the top paper layer. I love it when the image and paper become one!

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Beautiful Distress, Lettering Delights Painter's Hand Font, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501, and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Sanded Edge 6301 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

Name of challenge: Valentine's Day

“Love” by Jennifer Labre
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

Sometimes I find myself getting stuck in the rut of making everything linear on my layout – especially my titles. Here, I’ve mixed things up a bit and broken up my title by putting a single word on two lines. I like the uniqueness of making something a little bit different.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Shapely are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3

Name of challenge: Valentine's Day

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Azrael

“10 Things I Love About You” by Armi Custodio
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To create the grey dotted background paper, I took Ursula Schneider’s charcoal paper from her Affaire de Coeur Collection and above that, placed a dotted paper, also from the same collection. Then I set the dotted paper’s Blend Mode to “Overlay” at about 25% Opacity.

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Blackberry, AMC_Quirky Font, Dynamic Brush Set: Scattered Words, Dynamic Brush Set: Splatter 4901, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Edgy, THIN, and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0

Name of challenge: Valentine's Day

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Bauhaus
• Font - Century Gothic

“Love Always” by Kelly Favor-Chronister
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I love Ursula Schneider’s Is It Love? Transparency Overlays, but the colors seemed to overpower my photo, so I changed to Blend Mode to “Screen.”  This muted the colors and gave the inner portions of the hearts a “chalked” look, which I liked.

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Handwritten Love, Lettering Delights Hallmark Font, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Bows Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Extra - Bows, ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Brocante Frames, and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 and Apple iPhoto

Name of challenge: Valentine's Day

“My Girls” by Stefanie Harris
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I really love the look of shabby, weathered papers mixed with bright, colorful elements. The Red Lily Collection Biggie that Ursula Schneider created for the Christmas holidays really is perfect for this particular look... and I love that it’s versatile enough to use for more than just Christmas (even the word art was fitting).

I wanted to add a touch of whimsy to the otherwise chic look of the layout, so I used one of Ursula's ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Affaire de Coeur Biggie to frame the edge of my background paper. I then layered another paper (the dotted one) over that, and reduced the size so you could see the cute border peeking out. In order to make the title pop off the page, I used ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Inked Edges Jewel 4104 in a pretty cranberry color, which tied into the color scheme beautifully.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Affaire de Coeur Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Stylish Hearts 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Duo Tone Glitter Gels 6401 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Inked Edges Jewel 4104, and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Wrought Iron 5201 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Name of challenge: Valentine's Day

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Amazing Ruler

“Remember This” by Christy VanderWall
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To create the border for this layout, I selected the black portion of the leaf flourish paper from ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Victorian Scalloperoo and copied it to a new layer. Then I clipped a green paper from the Red Lily Velvet Solids Paper Mini to the new layer. After merging the layers, I moved the newly created border up to the top edge of the paper so just one scalloped edge was showing. The layer was then duplicated twice to repeat the pattern along the entire top edge and duplicated three more times to repeat the same effect for the bottom edge.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Victorian Scalloperoo, Brush Set: Acrylic Stroke Biggie 1, Lettering Delights Underwood Pica Font, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Colored Vellum 5401, and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3

Name of challenge: Valentine's Day

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Marydale
• Font - Jane Austen
• Font - Diesel

If you have praise, comments, or questions for any of our Product Designers or Layout Artists, did you know you can send them a PM (private message) using the message board? It's easy!

If you are a registered user of the message board, just click on the “PM” box at the bottom of any of their posts to send them a message. Or, to check out more of your favorite designer's layouts, visit the Scrap Girls Design Team section of the Layout Gallery.

Sitting here, after the family departs, I have such mixed feelings.

My family comes together twice a year, for a week, at my house for a reunion in late June/early July and Thanksgiving. (If I get to see them at Christmas, it is a bonus, although it won’t be in the same setting.) Every visit brings such blessings of new grandchildren, great nephews and nieces. Six months makes such a difference!

For Thanksgiving, my daughter's family, my sister, my nephew's family, and my niece's family come to my house on the lake (which was designed for such events), along with assorted kids, pets, spouses, friends, and exchange students.

There is always food, kids, laughter, games, cards, raked leaves for kids to play in, picture taking, more food, and local family members, including my parents, my brother's family, my son's family, and friends.

While Thursday is the big day for food, we spend part of Tuesday and Wednesday preparing for Thanksgiving. Meals are a very important part of every day. From my buttermilk biscuits and large Southern breakfasts, to spaghetti night or barbecued brisket, many dishes are made, consumed and cleanup is continuous. My daughter, sister, niece, nephew's wife, and I spend hours working in the kitchen. We may stop to help the kids rake leaves and then spend the afternoon burning sticks in the chimney! Each evening brings Skip Bo or Jokers & Pegs out.

Then, Thanksgiving arrives and everyone local shows up. Anywhere from 20 to 30 people, from the ages of two to ninety-one, come. The turkeys get fried, the casseroles get baked, the rolls get made, the salads chilled, and the pies are brought out of hiding!

Friday is spent at the fellowship hall of our little church scrapping our Christmas cards. My sister, daughter, two oldest granddaughters, and sometimes other friends and family spend most of the day there with me. Having a partner and nephew who spend time and love bringing us a two-foot long po' boy, chips, cookies, and dessert is truly a blessing!

Saturday afternoon usually finds most, if not all, of the family headed back to their respective homes. We've come together in a celebration of life, love, and liberty! We've had our fill of food and so many people in one space, but it is always a blessing. I always wonder if they all will be back again next year. The teenagers get jobs, the 'tweens have sports, drama, or choral events, and life intervenes.

I am so tired, loved, and blessed to be able to enjoy all of the grandkids and kids year after year. We used to have Thanksgiving at deer camp, but it wasn’t a very friendly environment for little kids and some of the mommas didn’t like it much either. Since Mama and Papa have been unable to go to camp, we've been having it here for the last seven years. Seven years of blessings. Now, that inspires a layout for sure! I had better do it tomorrow, because Monday it's back to the office and organizational responsibility. I wonder how many emails have piled up. Two blessed weeks a year, I give myself freedom from email.

For all of this, I am truly thankful, Lord.

- Peggy Wright

Muse: To be absorbed in one's thoughts; engage in meditation. Not intended to solve the world's problems, another person's problems, or to cover topics completely. One does not have to agree with musings to enjoy them, just as one does not have to be the same as someone else to appreciate who they are.

With the Scrap Girls Convention 2009 - Digital Scrap Link coming up, there was a thread started recently on how to save your pennies for this event. If you didn't go last year, it's something you don't want to miss out on! Here are some of the ideas:

• SUBMIT layouts to magazines! Save the funds from any picked up layouts!

• Use coupons and set aside the saved money.

• Round UP to the nearest dollar on every transaction from my checking account. At the end of the month, figure out the difference, and save it!

• When you pay cash, keep the change!

• Ask for Convention Funds for Holidays and Birthday, instead of other gifts!

• Make yourself a sandwich for lunch if you would have been out and about that day and picking up fast-food... then stick $5 in a jar instead!

• Dig out the change under the seats in your vehicle!

• If you do any other types of crafts (I know, what is this?), make them, then set up a store on Etsy.

• I passed on something I wanted to buy the other day. Then I went home and transferred that amount into my savings account. I can nickle and dime my way to the poorhouse, so I'm really trying hard to think if I really need something or can I do without and put that money into the savings. So far, I've got about half the ticket price (assuming it will be in the same ballpark as last year). Now to work on the transportation and housing costs. This is pretty much the strategy I use to save up for any big expense like vacations or major purchases. It's amazing how much money we can waste in a very short amount of time.

  If I turn the heat down just one degree this winter, I can save about $80. I don't mind wearing a sweater around the house. Coupons are a girls best friend. And even though the price of gas has gone down, I've gotten used to driving less. For using reusable shopping bags at my grocery store, you get a 5-cent discount per bag, so not only does that save at least a dollar a month, it's a good way to be green. Saving change can add up too. I usually save about $300 in change every year. I really want to go and will do without things I want so I can go. I try to take my lunch to work and just don't eat out or do fast food much anymore. Healthier and cheaper. We're planning a big garage sale this spring and my DIL and I are gathering, sorting, and tagging things as we go. She may be coming with me this year so that will help us both out.

• Do housework for someone and put the money into the saving jar. I don't do a lot of cash since I'm alone, but when I do, I put whatever is in the penny jar. Right now my savings account is necessarily going for moving expenses and when that is done, then I can turn around and save for the convention.

• Our Dollar store has tin can “piggy” banks (with cartoons on them). I'm going to get myself a couple and pretty them up. When I want to buy a pop or chips at work, I'll put my change in there instead. I need a can opener to get the money out AND I'll be saving calories!

• Put a piggy bank in the laundry room too, for all that forgotten change.

• Shop at the Scrap Girls sales and put your savings into your convention fund!!

• You can make your own cleaning solution with water, 1 teaspoon vinegar, and 1 teaspoon rubbing alcohol. It works super. Every time you refill the spray bottle, put the difference in your savings account.

• I have been thinking about selling my stamping supplies because I don't use them anymore. That would definitely give me some fundage to work with!

• Have a garage sale!

• I'm charging my kids 25 cents per wrapper, plate, cup, napkin, or any other extraneous trash that doesn't make it into the appropriate place. They pay me to buy back whatever is THEN they get to throw it/put it away. I figure I might has well hit them where it hurts! And voila, instant Scrap Girls Cash! LOL!

• Nobody mentioned tax returns yet! That may be my spending money this year.

• 245 days at $6.45 per day = One trip to SLC for me! Can anyone say “No to Starbucks”?

We've got threads going on our message board about saving money and tips and tricks to help get you to Salt Lake City this year. We would love to have you all come, so come read up, and see what you can do!

If you have never been to the Scrap Girls Chat Room before or have questions about it, this tutorial, Chat Basics, will provide lots of helpful information.

Crops and Chats

“Love Stinks” Pajama Party Saturday, February 14th - 9:00PM ET It’s Valentines Day and you're home. No fancy restaurant with fine cuisine or a quiet evening having love showered upon you? Well, Scrap Girls Loves you!!! Join Angela “The Nut” and Sherry Lynn “The Maine-iac” in the Chat Room Lobby at 9PM EST Saturday, February 14th! We will talk about boxes of chocolate, fabulous flowers, even our favorite Valentine's Day ever. Did you already celebrate? Well - don't despair - we still want you to join us! Scrap Simple Club Sunday, February 15th - 3:00PM ET We know everyone is excited for the new Scrap Simple Club to come out February 15th, and anxiously awaiting the download links on Monday. Come join me, Sherry_Lynn, on Sunday February 15th at 3 PM EST for a SG Scrap Simple Club Chat/Crop! We'll be discussing ideas on different ways to use the current club. As a challenge, let’s create one more layout using January's Scrap Simple Club before the next one arrives. It’s sure to be a blast! Hope to see you there! UFO Crop/Chat Sunday, February 15th - 4:00PM ET Please join Sherry-Lynn and special guest co-hostess KellyChron from our Layout Artist Team in the chatroom. Let's complete or revamp some of those layouts that are sitting in your “Layouts to be completed folder.” Post your layout in the UFO Gallery and meet us in the Lobby at 4 PM Feb. 15th to get some inspirational suggestions from our incredible professionals here at Scrap Girls! Recipe Swap Challenge Chat Sunday, February 15th - 8:00PM ET Please join Danna (scrappylibrarian) and April (April Showers) in the chatroom at 8pm EST for our Monthly Recipe Swap chat. Details for the recipe swap will be posted on the message board on Thursday, Feb 12. We look forward to seeing you there! Coffee Break Chat Monday, February 16th - 6:30AM ET If reading the Scrap Girls Newsletter and having a cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea first thing in the morning is a part of your daily routine, join Sherry Lynn and Becca on Monday, February 16, 2009 for this month's Coffee Break Chat. We'll chat over the latest issue of the Newsletter for a light and fun way to start off your week! Hope to see you there! New Member Chat **Early Edition** Tuesday, February 17th - 3:00PM ET Join April (April Showers) at 3:00 PM ET for a fun chat to get to know our newest members. We will discuss the message board, gallery, chocolate and so much more! Everyone is welcome, new or not so new! Not sure how to get there? Just click the “chat room” button at the top of this newsletter; you will need JavaScript enabled to access the chat room. Ad Inspiration Challenge and Chat Tuesday, February 17th - 9:00PM ET Join Pat (PBarnes) on Tuesday, February 17th, at 9 PM ET for an Ad Challenge and Chat. A few hours before the chat, a magazine ad will be posted on the message board to use as inspiration for a layout. You can use whatever you want to from the ad - the colors, the shapes, the composition. There are no wrong answers! High Noon Crop Wednesday, February 18th - 12:00Noon ET Join your guest host April Showers for the High Noon Crop every Wednesday at Noon eastern time. These crops are designed to allow you to work on your own photos and themes, simply giving participants a one hour goal, and a fun, new challenge each week! On February 18th, we'll do a patterned paper challenge! Create a layout on any theme, any topic, and any colors - using multiple patterned papers - at least two different patterns! Mix it up! You'll have one hour to create a layout and upload to the special High Noon Crop gallery. You'd be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! Meet new friends and have fun in the chat room! We hope you'll join us!

February Events

February Board Game: BINGO! It's that time again! Join us for an exciting game of BINGO on the Message Board Forum in February! Pick 25 words from the list provided in the forum and send them in an e-mail to [email protected] with a subject line that says “BINGO CARD - your SG message board username” by Monday, February 2nd (midnight MST) in order to play in the first round, which will begin Tuesday February 3rd. Each day, members of the Welcoming Committee will call five random words from the Bingo list. Match just 15 of those words to win a BINGO. You must be first to call bingo in the forum to win that round. After a winner is called, the boards can be cleared and a new round will begin the following day. All winners win a $5 gift certificate to the boutique! We like to see lots of winners, so please remember that each person can only win one round during the month. Have fun! If you miss the first round cutoff date, you can still play! Just send in your Bingo card at any time during the month and you'll be eligible to begin playing when the next new round starts. Everyone who sends in a Bingo card will receive a confirmation email that their card has been received. If you do not receive confirmation within 24 hours, please re-send your list of words. Layout Contests: February Layout Contest: Amour, Amor, Amore! The word LOVE is one of the most popular in any language across the globe. For this month's contest, we want you to use the word “Love” on your layouts. Let's see how creative you can get with it by using it in a unique way on your pages. Post your Love layouts in the February Layout Contest Gallery by midnight ET on February 28th, and if yours is selected, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique. January Mid-Month Layout Contest: It's the beginning of a new year, a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. January is a time for resolutions and setting goals. So, for the mid-January Layout Contest, we want to see your layouts showcasing New Beginnings! Post your layouts in the Mid-January Layout Gallery before midnight ET on February 15th and you could win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Good Luck!

Check our message board calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in Eastern Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-New York' as the location for the Eastern time zone.)

Layout by Keri Schueller
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Designer Freebie by Keri Schueller coordinates with her My Funny Valentine Collection Mini

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Go With The Flow and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Organica 5201 are also available.

* There is a “free download” button on the details page for each gift. You don't need to put them in your shopping cart unless you are shopping for other items. Also note that if you are slow reading your newsletter, you may find this freebie has already been retired, as the freebies are only available as gifts for about two newsletter cycles.