Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: April 4, 2009

Occasionally, email clients or Internet Service Providers have email delivery issues that are beyond our control. If you are having issues reading the newsletter or viewing any of the images, you may find it is easier to read the web page version. It is available here:
http://www.scrapgirls.com/NL/Chit_Chat_090404_Sat_Living.htm

Cute Stuff

Digital scrapbook layout by Brandy Murry

Layout by Brandy Murry
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Ribbons To Go III are also available.

Digital scrapbook layout by Syndee Nuckles

Layout by Syndee Nuckles
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Pink Ink, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Vellum 5401 and Brush Set: 4x6 Word Frames are also available.

Digital scrapbook layout by Angie Briggs

Layout by Angie Briggs
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Multiple Photo 3 are also available.

Digital scrapbook layout by Amanda Sok

Layout by Amanda Sok
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Page Protectors are also available.

Digital scrapbook layout by Laurel Lakey

Layout by Laurel Lakey
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Masks - Downtown, Dynamic Brush Set: Frayed 5401, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Stitched Framery and Brush Set: Paint Stroke are also available.

Digital scrapbook layout by Kerry Veale

Layout by Kerry Veale
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Satin Stitch 5101 Super Biggie, Brush Set: Well Worn and Brush Set: Always and Forever Word Art Biggie are also available.

Digital scrapbook layout by Ariadna Wiczling

Layout by Ariadna Wiczling
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Commercial license versions of Dynamic Brush Set: Basic Stitching 4901 Biggie are also available.

Digital scrapbook layout by Kim Meeder

Layout by Kim Meeder
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Victorian Frame, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Asian Fans, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Fancy Folds 1, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Asian Effect, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Mingei and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Pearl 5101 are also available.

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.

Customer Muse

I first learned I had Multiple Sclerosis (MS) on Labor Day in 2006. I woke up with blurred vision and felt like someone poured lit firecrackers down my throat. I felt all the electrical connections in my body go haywire as I jumped around on the bed. And then... nothing. I felt dead. My husband took my stiff body to the hospital. I stayed there for five days (I don’t remember those days.) The neurologist diagnosed me with progressive MS and told my husband it was a poor prognosis.

I was then discharged to a rehabilitation nursing home, where I spent 20 months in rehab. I couldn’t move from the waist down, but I worked all day long in the rehab gym and eventually was able to use a wheelchair and then a walker. Now, I usually walk without assistance.

Fatigue is a big issue that people with MS constantly have to address. For example, I have to take one or two naps each day to keep rested enough so that I won’t have seizures.

How do I manage my MS? I eat a vegetarian diet with organic foods. I get plenty of rest. I avoid hot weather. I exercise. I avoid loud, overcrowded venues that will trigger a seizure. I ask for help when I need it. I take my medications. I am always looking for some better treatment. I have had Botox shots in my legs for spasticity and I have had plasmapharesis to reduce seizures and fatigue. I have support from other people living with MS - no two are the same. I also recently joined an MS support group.

What things do I miss? I can’t drive. I can’t whistle. I can’t jump. I don’t dance to the rhythm. I clap funny. My short-term memory is gone. My right arm and hand are weak. My gait, when I walk, is sometimes funny and slow.

I am now living on my own. My husband of 30 years left me after the diagnosis. It takes the whole day for me to take care of meals, medicines, cleaning, laundry, mail, bills, phone calls, making the bed, washing dishes, etc. I have to rest during each chore, but I get everything done. It doesn’t leave too much free time, but that is okay with me. I am also taking online courses and working on scrapbooking, as well. My days are never boring.

- Deborah Wilcox

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.

Note from Ro: Would you like to earn a $20 Gift Certificate? Send your own muse to [email protected]. If it is selected for publication in the Scrap Girls newsletter, you'll get to have fun shopping!

Ro is now spotlighting various Scrap Girls members, showing layouts, and running contests in her blog. If you end up being spotlighted in it, you'll get a little gift from her. Subscribe to her blog so you don't miss what is going on!

Ro has recently spotlighted Soozlou, mtorres_usa, and teabaglady!

Important to Know: Retirement Sale

We've just opened a Retirement Sale section of the Boutique. Items in this section are always on sale for 30% off. The items you will find during any particular month will be discontinued permanently on the 5th of the following month. So if you see something you like, grab it while you can!

University Updates

University students have been incredibly busy! Our class offerings continue to grow and students continue to amaze and inspire the entire Scrap Girls team. Here’s a peek at what my students have been learning this year.

In January, we focused on antique photo restoration in Photoshop. Students learned ways to eradicate writing and scribble marks from old photos and how to restore them to their original black-and-white. They also learned ways to repair antique photos damaged by tears and scratches.

Computer scrapbook layout by Susan Polk

Layout by bsktcse
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In February, we kicked it up a notch with advanced restorative techniques. Students used filters to strengthen clarity and various other tools for rebuilding density. They also learned to recreate missing information.

Computer scrapbook layout by Samantha Booth

Layout by samantha_in_oz
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Patch It Up are also available.

March found my university students in stitches. During the Dynamic Fab 20: Stitching Class, students trimmed flowers and embellishments with dynamic stitching. Seasonal inspired digital stitching techniques were the focus and students had great fun implementing whimsical appeal into their class layouts.

Computer scrapbook layout by Karen Budzinski

Layout by Karen_Budzinski
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- Katherine Weaver

Katherine Weaver

What Customers Are Saying...

To tell you the truth, Scrap Girls is my favorite store. I find your items beautiful and classy. I love the sample pages that go with the kits. This is why I purchase kits and templates one after the other.

In this day, with the economy as bad as it is, it’s making people take a hard look at what they buy. In my opinion, good customer service is as good as the product. Your customer service is one of the best. Trust me - there are sites that I wouldn’t go back to (or even go to in the first place) if they gave their product away for free, because they don’t have good customer service.

Dear Scrap Girls, Here is a BIG THANKS. This year, you have been fantastic with your freebies. They are such great quality. I just felt I should write to you about this after seeing the lovely and time appropriate St. Patrick’s Irish frame. It helps our scrapping.

You have amazing customer service and I signed up for the monthly service because of this. I was pretty much on the fence about it, but your awesome customer service sold me.

The customer support at Scrap Girls is super. Other businesses could use a lesson from you.

Thank you so much! You guys are awesome with your customer service - one of the main reasons I stay so faithful to your company and recommend it to others.

I wanted to tell you thanks and that I love your newsletters! You are informative!

You guys are just the best! That’s why people will keep coming back again and again. You have awesome products and designers, too.

Thank you for being so considerate. Most businesses would never even think of giving their customers a coupon.

I just wanted to send you a quick note of thanks for resetting all of my links! That is so generous of you, truly! Yet another reason why Scrap Girls will always be number one on my list!

I read today’s Scrap Girls newsletter, like many times before, but had not tried any of the projects before - until now. In today’s newsletter, I loved “Taking Off,” the demonstration challenge by Paula Wright. It inspired me so much that I ordered the ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Boxed and did a layout by using the shoebox with crepe paper inside. I remember making these every year in grade school, many, many years ago. I am sending this to let you know I am learning a lot from those spotlighted demonstrations that you offer, the tips and large amount of information you send my way through the newsletter. I am VERY grateful! Oh, one more thing. I’ve been telling my family and friends where to find your wonderful store, too, which has turned a few into digital scrap girls!

Layout and Contest Winners

Weekly Layout Winners

Computer scrapbook layout by mum42

Layout by mum 42
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Off The Wall, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Florid Overlays and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Off The Wall - Torn are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by KBT

Layout by KBT
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Lines and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Antiquities Biggie are also available.

Want to see your layouts make an appearance
in the Scrap Girls' newsletters?

Simply post your digital or paper layoutsthat use Scrap Girls products in our online gallery, and if we choose your layout to be featured in the newsletter, you'll win a prize! To be considered, don't forget to list the Scrap Girls' products that you used in your layout.

Congratulations to this week's selectees. Please email [email protected] to get your gift!

What's Happening at Scrap Girls?

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

Quote Challenge & Chat
Sunday, April 5th - 4:00PM ET

Come join Pat (PBarnes) for the Quote Challenge Crop at 4pm ET! Including a quote on your layout can be a touching and meaningful addition, especially if you use the quote to create your own word art.

Here's how it will work. On Sunday, I'll post a thread on the Chat section of the board giving you the quote that you can use to make your own word art. It's not hard, and I will have a layout with a word art example in the gallery. Then we'll meet in the chat room to have fun, chat, and create our word art layouts!

Card Chat
Monday, April 6th - 8:00PM ET

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Ngaire for our new monthly chat. Do you use your digital supplies to make cards? Do you want to? Instead of going to the store every time you need a card we thought it would be better (and more fun!) to use our digital stash to make any cards we might need for the upcoming month. This month, we'll be working on Easter cards. See you there!

NSBR Chat
Monday, April 6th - 9:00PM ET

What is NSBR? It's a non-scrapbooking related chat! We talk about everything, including some scrapbooking and usually chocolate. It's a great chance to meet new friends, catch up on what everyone is up to, and just relax! If you have a problem, we'll lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on. Have some great news to share? We'd love to celebrate with you. So join Carla (CRS) at 9pm ET in the chat room!

Keeping Current Crop
Tuesday, April 7th - 4:00PM ET

Join AngRoCamp for the Keeping Current Crop at 4pm ET. Don't let those photos pile up and become frustrating or overwhelming. Join us in the chat room for fun and focus on "keeping current" as we each tackle our most recent pictures and stories. So grab the last photos that are still hanging out on your camera's memory card and get to work so you can say with confidence "I'm current!"

Life Moments Crop & Chat
Tuesday, April 7th - 8:00PM ET

Join Carla (CRS) for another installment in our Life Moments Crop and Chat. This crop challenges you to focus on yourself and leave a record for future generations. Watch the message board for this week's topic! I'll see you in the chat room at 8pm ET!

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, April 8th - 12:00Noon ET

Join your guest host April Showers each Wednesday at Noon ET for a fun chat and crop. 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 April 8th, we'll do a pastel challenge! Create a layout using pastels! You'll have one hour to create a humorous layout, and upload to the special High Noon Crop gallery. You'd be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! We hope you'll join us!

Journaling Chat
Wednesday, April 8th - 8:00PM ET

Join Becca and angelaNussbaum for the Journaling chat at 8pm ET. Are most of your layouts decorative? Do you have stories to tell, but just not motivated enough to make a layout with journaling? We are going to challenge you to do a layout with your journaling in mind. Come join us and tell your stories?

ScrapGirls 52 Chat
Thursday, April 9th - 8:00PM ET

Calling all SG 52 participants and anyone else who wants to join in or learn more about it! Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Becca at 8pm ET (that�s 5pm for those of you on the west coast!) for this month’s Scrap Girls 52 Chat. We’ll discuss more ways to keep this challenge fresh and fun, as well as a list of products in the boutique to help your layouts come together with this month’s theme “Learning” in mind. It’s never too late to join, so we hope to see you there!

Sketch Challenge & Crop
Thursday, April 9th - 9:00PM ET

Join Marnie (sprinklz) for the Sketch Challenge and Crop at 9pm ET in the Scrap Girls Chat Room! Like getting a little jump start on your layouts? Then this challenge is for you! A few hours before the challenge begins, I’ll post a sketch for you to use as the starting point for your page. You can be inspired by the basic arrangement, the amount of photos, or copy it literally. All interpretations are welcome and encouraged! Looking forward to seeing you there!

What's New Chat
Friday, April 10th- 11:00AM ET

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry_Lynn at 11am ET to chat about all the cool new things in the boutique. What are you getting? What did you kaboodle? And most importantly show us the layouts or other projects you made with your new goodies! There’s a thread every Thursday and now there’s a chat too!

April Events

April Board Game: The Alphabet Hunt

We're taking your ABC game skills to a whole new level this month... and tacking on some prizes as well! This month's message board game is The Alphabet Hunt. Each week we'll give you a theme and a searching task and then set you loose to start building our list in alphabetic order! For each item you correctly add to our alphabetic list in the game thread on the message board, your name will be entered into a drawing which will be held at the end of the month and the TEN winners of the drawing will each win a $5 gift certificate to the ScrapGirls Boutique!

Participation is what counts big this month, so join us on the message board for the detailed rules, weekly specifics and LOTS of fun!

Layout Contests:

April Monthly Layout Contest: With April 1st being April Fools Day we've decided to get Silly. If you have kids or grandkids, or even spouses, that like to mug for the camera, then you have what you need to do a layout for the April Monthly Layout Contest with the theme of Silly Faces. You could win a $10 gift certificate to the boutique if your layout is chosen! Just post your layouts in the April Monthly Layout Gallery before April 30th at Midnight ET and you will be eligible to win! Be sure to include the credits for items used in the description area or under the Details tab.

March Mid-Month Layout Contest: Time marches on in our lives. Scrapbooking gives us a way to track that time. For the mid-month layout contest, we want you to create a layout that shows a timeline of events or a then-and-now contrast. Post your Timeline layouts in the Mid-March Layout Contest Gallery before April 14th at midnight eastern. You will be eligible to win a $10 gift card to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Let's get scrapping!

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.)

Today's Freebie

Computer scrapbook layout by Brandy Murry

Layout by Brandy Murry
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Designer Freebie by Brandy Murry coordinates with her Back Porch Collection Biggie



Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Paint Stroke 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.

1 8.5x11 Sheet of Word Art

1 Assemble Your Own Zoom Page Set

1 Designer's Choice Item