Layout by Kerry Veale
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Well Worn are also available.

Layout by Valerie Randall
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Commercial license versions of Colour (me) Creative eBook with 36 color swatches, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Beautiful Distress, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Paisley, Brush Set: Downtown, Dynamic Brush Set: Spirals 2101, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Stitch 'n Holes 8302 Running Stitch Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Tags 2101, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Inked Edges Neutrals 4102 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Paper Textures 4901 are also available.

Layout by Ariadna Wiczling
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PSE 8201, Dynamic Brush Set: Baby Boom 8201 and Lettering Delights Slender Font are also available.

Layout by Thao Cosgrove
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos Biggie -Weathered are also available.

Layout by Syndee Nuckles
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Urban Grunge Photo Masks 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.

Editor's note: Ro is taking some well-deserved and much-needed time off. While she is having a break, we hope you will enjoy these muses contributed by members of our Scrap Girls team.

Late one Friday night, I received a phone call from my stepmother. She was on her way to the emergency room. My father was having what turned out to be a reaction to his latest back surgery. They were supposed to be going away for the weekend to welcome my stepbrother home from Iraq, but my father couldn’t travel in his condition. So, the next morning, I packed up the girls and myself to spend the weekend taking care of him. I forgot many things, but the most important thing was my camera.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived. I had little sleep the night before and the rainy 90 minute drive had worn me out. But my father was doing ok and he felt guilty that we had dropped everything to take care of him. I was relieved he was doing better. The weather was clearing, so the girls and I went exploring. My parents live next to one of the Finger Lakes in New York. They have some land, a gorgeous view of the lake, and I was so excited check it out. I’ve only been there a few times since they purchased the place, but the girls have spent many weekends there. They love it, so I knew it was a special place.

The girls showed me the butterfly garden they helped plant. Flowers were blooming and I didn’t have my camera. I must have wished for my camera a dozen times before my daughter reminded me that I had already said that. We went for a walk in the woods and saw birds and wild flowers. Again, I wished for my camera. We saw a rabbit and deer run through the yard. Oh, why did I forget my camera?

I fell under the magical spell of the lake house, as we call it. I planned another trip to the lake house the very next weekend my husband had to travel. The first thing I packed was my camera, complete with a large memory card. And did I need it! I took over 250 photos in one weekend. I had deer posing for photos, a rabbit stopped nibbling on grass long enough to say cheese, and a fox even took the time to sit still for a shot or ten. I took tons of photos of the blooming flowers and even more photos on our boat trip around the lake. We were even allowed to take photos of a waterfall in someone’s backyard! I would have cried if I didn’t have my camera with me for that spectacular sight!

Needless to say, I survived the weekend without my camera and made up for it the next time I was at the lake house. I won’t make that mistake again! From now on, the first thing I pack is my camera! I can’t leave home without it!

- Carla Shute

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.

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!

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS2 on Mac OS X.

One of the wonderful things about digital scrapbooking is being able to achieve the look of paper scrapping techniques without the bulk or effort. A great example in the Scrap Girls boutique is the ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Burned. This unique product makes it possible for you to take a digital photo and put it on a piece of transparency film with burned edges that have been stitched, buttoned or torn. It is really fun and easy, so let’s get started.

Open a new document and bring in a background paper. In this example, a paper is used from the St. Croix Paper Biggie. These papers have the look of oil paint on canvas. They have wonderful texture and color, with a subtle pattern that makes them versatile.

Next, select which of the ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Burned frames that you would like to work with. The product includes both the PNG files and the layered PSD files. In this example, the layered Photoshop file is used. Open the transparency frame and bring all of the layers onto your page. Please be sure that you keep the layers in their original order. This is important to maintain the look of plastic. Now, add a drop shadow to the bottom layer to give it realism.

Next, bring in a photo. In the example below, the eye was to be the focal point, so the photo was enlarged and positioned in the transparency frame. Select the photo mask layer on the Layers Palette and then, using the Magic Wand Tool, activate the layer. Marching ants will show up around the edge of the photo mask, as in the example below. If you don’t like the placement of your photo, deselect the marching ants and move or resize your photo until you are happy with what will be included within the transparency frame.

Once you are happy with your photo placement, hit Delete and the entire photo outside of the photo mask layer will be deleted.

The next step is very easy and makes your photo look like it has been printed on the transparency film. TURN OFF THE PHOTO MASK LAYER. This is a critical step in making the photo look transparent. Making certain that your photo layer is active, select a large, soft brush. Look at your photo and decide how much of the background you want to erase. For this example, all of the background and edges were erased. Complete step-by-step-instructions are included in the ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Burned product that will walk you through brush settings and other options. Now you can see that your photo really does look like it has been printed on burned plastic. There are bright highlights, soft realistic shadows and irregular burned edges. Cool!

At this point, the paper can be left white, colored or another paper can be clipped to the paper layer to add more interest. In this layout, a paper from the Attic Treasures Collection is scaled down to 50% of the original size and then clipped to the torn paper base. As you can see, the Blend Mode is set to “Linear Burn.” This setting worked well with this paper, but you can experiment with different Blend Modes and layer opacities to get different looks. If you clip a paper, as in this example, you can then use your Eraser Tool again to erase some of the pattern in the torn edge area to make the paper tear look realistic.

Here is one more fun tip for you that you might not have tried. Open a photo mask. In this example, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Masks - Attic Treasures is used. Select the PNG file you want to work with and load it as a brush. Using the Color Picker Tool, select a color from your layout. A soft turquoise blue is used in this example. Make a new layer and, with the loaded photo mask brush, stamp the photo mask onto your layout. Amanda Sok’s ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Photo Masks 6401 add texture, dimension and shadows to photo masks. This photo mask shape will now become a matte for a photo.

Sometimes, you have a great photo, but the colors don’t work well with the papers or elements you want to use. This is an easy way to solve that problem. You can see the pink blossoms are lovely, but they don’t really go with the monochromatic feel of this layout.

Watch how easily you can fix that. You can see from the example above that the photo layer is duplicated so that there are the original photo and a copy. First, turn off the top duplicate photo copy layer and then go to the Layers Palette and change the Blend Mode of the bottom photo to “Multiply.” The entire photo will turn blue. Using the Eraser Tool, erase away the edges of the photo so that the detailed edges of the photo mask show clearly.

Now, turn the top photo layer back on. The Blend Mode of this photo layer will remain on “Normal.” Using the Eraser Tool again, erase away all of the background, leaving the subject untouched. You can see that the background blossoms blend into the color and texture of the photo mask and Sabrina’s face becomes the focal point.

One last thing to consider before adding embellishments and journaling to your layout is that you may want to adjust how bright the photo in the plastic transparency frame looks. Because of the highlight layers that are necessary to make your photo look like it was printed on plastic, sometimes the photo looks washed out or over exposed when you compare it to the original photo. This can be corrected quickly by going to Image> Adjustments> Brightness/Contrast and then darkening your photo layer. On this example, the photo is darkened 14%.

Layout by Paula Wright
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Burned, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Branches and Blooms 6301 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Photo Masks 6401 are also available.

Tutorial written by Paula Wright

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

What's New Chat Friday, April 17th- 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! Recipe Swap Chat Saturday, April 18th- 9:00PM ET Join Danna (scrappylibrarian) and April (April Showers) to chat about this month’s recipe swap. The theme for the month will be posted on the message board on Thursday, April 9th. We always end up with some great ideas so be sure to join us! UFO Crop & Chat Sunday, April 19th- 3:00PM ET Please join Sherry Lynn and special guest co-hostess Kimmy (kimmybutton) 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 3pm ET to get some inspirational suggestions from our incredible professionals here at Scrap Girls! Scraplift Crop & Chat Sunday, April 19th- 5:00PM ET Join ManiakMama and angelaNussbaum for a Scraplifting Crop. A few hours before the crop we will tell you the name of a Scrap Girls Team Member, and you will be able to choose one of their layouts to be your inspiration. During the crop we will also help explain about scraplifting, how to use a layout as inspiration, and the importance of giving credit. Scraplifting is a lot of fun! So come join us, you’re sure to enjoy it! Coffee Break Chat Monday, April 20th - 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 at 6:30am ET 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, April 21st - 3:00PM ET Join April (April Showers) at 3:00pm 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. High Noon Crop Wednesday, April 22nd - 12:00Noon ET Join your guest host April Showers for the High Noon Crop every Wednesday at Noon ET. 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 22nd, we’ll do an inanimate object challenge! That’s right - your layout will be about someTHING, not someONE! Favorite dessert? Favorite drink? A child’s beloved toy? Your new car? Lots of possibilities! 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! Journaling Chat Wednesday, April 22nd - 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. Faith Journey Chat Wednesday, April 22nd - 9:00PM ET Join Shalae (satippetts) for the Faith Journey chat at 9pm ET. This is a great time to recieve support in your faith or challenges as we help each other grow in our testimonies of our beliefs. Ad Inspiration Challenge & Chat Thursday, April 23rd - 9:00PM ET Join Pat (PBarnes) at 9pm 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!

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. April Mid-Month Layout Contest: Do you have a mischief maker in your family? Pets or wildlife in your yard are often mischief makers, too. For this layout contest, we want to see your layouts of a mischief maker or two you have known. You could win a $10 gift certificate to the boutique if your layout is chosen! Just post your layouts in the April Mid-Month Layout Gallery before May 15th at Midnight ET, and you will be eligible to win! Be sure to include the credits for products used in the description area or under the Details tab.

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 Valerie Randall
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Designer Freebie by Valerie Randall coordinates with her Dynamic Brush Set: Letterpress 2101, part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!

Commercial license versions of Dynamic Brush Set: Letterpress 2101, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Printer's Ornaments, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Dirty Press, ScrapSimple Type Paths: Curves 2101, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: WaterDrops 5301 Mini and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Dirty Press 5401 Mini 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.