Layout by Gillian Hurst
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Afro Candy, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Grunged Metals Super Biggie 4103, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Office Use Only and ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Scratched are also available.

Layout by Brandy Murry
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Alpha Templates: Old Chipboard are also available.

Layout by Laurel Lakey
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Commercial license versions of Dynamic Brush Set: Drawing 5701 are also available.

Layout by Angie Briggs
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Day To Day Life are also available.

Layout by Valerie Randall
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Dream Boards, Dynamic Brush Set: Spirals 2101, Texture Set: Mission - Embossable Scrollwork, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: WaterDrops 5301 Mini and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Grunged Metals Super Biggie 4102 are also available.

Layout by Angie Briggs
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Layout by Launa Valente
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Fancy Folds 3 and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Folds 1 are also available.

Layout by Brandy Hackman
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Layout by Caroline Kaiser
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Stroke 9901 PS, Brush Set: Sketchbook Pencil Biggie and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Tuscany 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.

It's time for Mischief Week!

For those of you that haven’t been with us for the past several years, Mischief Week is a week of general madness and mayhem. We have lots of crazy chats, classes, games, prizes, and other random events just in time to usher us into the wonderful world of spring.

Garden of Doom:

Layout by Janine Buckles
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You wonder WHEN it will appear, you worry if it WILL appear, but still you WANT it to appear and HERE IT IS... just in time for spring. It’s the Garden of Doom!

For those of you new to this game, the object is simple. You must correctly identify the Scrap Girls products used in the Garden of Doom image.

43 different Scrap Girls products were used to create the image. While ScrapSimple products may have been used, there are no styles, actions or shapes involved... but you may find a brush or two! Here’s a little hint... some of our designers are represented more than once or twice � just focus on finding the products.

Wait! Don’t panic! You don’t have to find ALL of them to play the game; however, everyone who DOES get them all correct will automatically win a $10 Gift Certificate!

This means more than one person can win a $10 gift certificate. (Anyone this motivated deserves a prize!) The winners of these gift certificates can get in on the rest of the game, too!

For all players:

• If you get 20 or more correct answers, you will be entered into the drawing for a $25 Gift Certificate!
• If you get 15-20 correct answers, you will be entered into the drawing for a $10 Gift Certificate!
• If you get 10-15 correct answers, you will be entered into the drawing for a $5 Gift Certificate!

To enter the game, email your guesses and message board member name, if you have one, to [email protected].

For each item guessed, you must include BOTH the product name and a link to where you can find it in the Scrap Girls Boutique.

Emails must be received by Midnight EST on Thursday, April 30th. (We can not be responsible for lost or non-received emails.) Game limited to one email per member. Janine Buckles (J9Buckles) will respond to your email to let you know it was received. If you do not receive a reply in 24 hours, please resend.

Here is the schedule for the week:

Saturday, April 25th

• 9:00AM ET (11:00PM Australian ET) – Anzac Day Chat - Jo and Karen
  Join Jo (ScrappingJo) and Karen (kazbar73) as we come together to celebrate ANZAC Day. This is the one and only day in Australia where we remember our men and women who have served in our Armed Forces. This chat is not just for Aussie girls and we would love to have everyone join us as we remember those who serve our countries for the better good. So come along and chat with us, and if you can, do a layout in remembrance of someone who has served or maybe do a layout about what ANZAC Day/Remembrance Day means to you. We look forward to chatting with you.

• 10:00AM ET – Color Challenge Chat - Amy and Carol Ann
  Yes, it’s your regularly scheduled Saturday Color Challenge, but there is mischief in the air. Join Amy (ManiakMama) and Carol Ann (Zaz) for a special color challenge and chat that may make you see some colors in a completely different way. Are you up for the challenge? Meet us in the chat room on Saturday, April 25th at 10am ET. Bwahaha!!

• 4:00PM ET – 20 Questions Chat - Sherry Lynn
  So you think you know the Scrap Girls Team - join Sherry_Lynn in the chat room at 4pm AND let’s see just how many of the 20 Questions you can get right. There will be lots of chocolate, fun, questions AND oh yeah - a prize!

• 9:00PM ET – Cram the Chatroom - Ro, Angela, and Sherry Lynn
  Join Ro, angelaNussbaum, Sherry_Lynn, and more of the ScrapGirls team as we attempt to Cram the Chatroom!!!

• 10:00PM ET – PJ Party - Danna and Angela
  Join Danna (scrappylibrarian) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) in a fun filled 2 hour pajama party! Put your pajamas on, snuggle into your slippers, get your chocolate stash handy and get ready for chatting, fun and games!

Sunday, April 26th

• 3:00PM ET – ATC Swap Crop - Sherry Lynn and Michelle
  Please join Sherry_Lynn and Michelle (Shelbi) in the chatroom at 3pm for our April ATC Swap Crop/Chat. For this month’s challenge we are doing ATC’s (Artist Trading Cards) that feature “April Fool-ish Fun!” We can’t wait to see the wacky cards you come up with!

• 4:00PM ET – Wacky Recipe Swap Crop - Carla and Sherry Lynn
  Do you have a recipe that tastes great BUT isn’t exactly what it appears to be? Does it look like meatloaf AND taste like cake - then we would love for you to share the recipe! Join Carla (CRS) & Sherry (Sherry_Lynn) in the chat room at 4pm for this wacky version on the Recipe Swap Crop!

• 5:00PM ET – Scraplift Crop - Amy and Angela
  Join Amy (ManiakMama) and angelaNussbaum for a Scraplift Crop. A few hours before the crop we will tell you exactly what you will be scraplifting and you will be able to let your creativity loose!

• 8:00PM ET – Quote Challenge Crop - Pat
  It’s time for another Quote Challenge and Chat on Sunday at 8pm ET in the Live Chat Lobby. Pat (PBarnes) will post a quote a few hours before the chat for you to create your own word art for your layout. Come and join the fun!

• 9:00PM ET – Creating Mischief Crop - Carla and Carol Ann
  Do you like to create mischief? Join Carol Ann (Zaz) and Carla(CRS) for a mischievous crop! What mischief you decide to create will determine what you use on your layouts! We will post a list of mischief for you to choose from early in the day, then we will let you know later what scrapbooking supply that act represents. Then you create a layout using those supplies! It’s sure to create some good clean mischief! Hope you’ll join us!

Monday, April 27th

• 7:00AM ET (9:00PM Australian ET) – Aussie Chat & Challenge - Jo and Karen
  Please come join Karen (kazbar73) & Jo (ScrappingJo) at 9pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Monday 27 April for the Autumn Recipe Challenge Crop. Choose your favourite Autumn Recipe and create a 4 x 6 recipe card. Then come along and chat with us about your creation on Monday night. For our International ladies, the chat will start 7am New York time.

• 12:00Noon ET – Monday Challenge Chat - April and Shari
  Join April Showers and Shari (Shari_PV_Mom) in the chat room at 12noon ET for a special, mischievious Monday Challenge Chat!

• 3:00PM ET – Mess or Masterpiece? Crop - Ro and Dee
  Join Ro and Dee (DDecker) for a digital scrapbooking crop that will get you laughing while you create a layout or two with the “ingredients” you’ll take out of your folders as directed. Luck will determine if each layout is a mess or a masterpiece!

• 7:00PM ET – Michievious Avatar Crop & Chat - Michelle and Sherry Lynn
  Hey scrap friends - join Michelle (Shelbi) & Sherry_Lynn in the chat room at 7pm ET for a Marvelously Mischievous Avatar Chat and Crop. We’ll talk about how to create a fun and fabulously silly avatar to truly reflect your crazy side of life on the Scrap Girls message board.

• 8:00PM ET – Siggy Challenge Crop - Becca and Shari
  We know your fingers are busy on the message board this week, so let’s get together and jazz up our signatures! Join Becca and Shari (Shari_PV_Mom) at 8pm ET for a Siggy Challenge Crop and Chat. We’ll show you how to use your digital scrapbooking supplies to create a signature, answer questions about the “rules” of using a custom signature image on the message board, and how to set it up so it shows up under your posts.

• 9:00PM ET – FREE CLASS! Create your own Spatter Brush - Mary Elizabeth
  Do you want to add a splash of color on your layouts? Join Mary Elizabeth (NS_Scrapper) for a mini-class to create your own spatter brush in PhotoShop. We’ll make a brush that allows you to leave a spray of colors or tones on your page - with some mischievous results.

Tuesday, April 28th

• 11:00AM ET – Creative Photo Challenge
• 1:00PM ET – Mischievious Freebie Crop
• 2:00PM ET – FREE CLASS! - Customizing your Twitter background
• 3:00PM ET – FREE CLASS! - Super Strokes Mini Class
• 8:00PM ET – Mischief Journaling Crop
• 9:00PM ET – New Member Chat

Wednesday, April 29th

• 12:00Noon ET – HIgh Noon Crop
• 3:00PM ET – Wacky Ad Crop
• 6:00PM ET – FREE CLASS! - Alpha Brush Class
• 8:00PM ET – Desktop Crop
• 9:00PM ET – Oddball Trivia & Mischievous Facts Chat
• 10:00PM ET – Late Night Scrappers Chat

Thursday, April 30th

• 11:00AM ET – Critique Chat
• 12:00Noon ET – FREE CLASS! - Gradient Map Magic for Photos
• 4:00PM ET – NSBR Chat - Early Edition
• 7:00PM ET – University Chat
• 8:00PM ET – Secret Pal Chat
• 9:00PM ET – Hodgepodge Sketch Challenge Chat
• 10:00PM ET (12Noon - May 1st Australian ET) – Aussie Mischief Chat

Note: While every effort will be made to adhere to this schedule, details are subject to change.

It’s not easy being short. At five feet and a quarter, I am constantly shadowed (literally) by my almost six foot younger sisters and my father. I used to be one of the tallest kids in my class and maybe if things had gone the way they were heading, I would be.

My mother and I have learned to adjust. For example, the “blind soup grab,” in which the cans in the pantry are stacked above your head, so you reach for one blindly and hope it’s not cream of broccoli. Or, the scaling of the bookshelves to reach the DVDs. Then, there is the great Pilates-worthy stretch for the mousse in the bathroom cupboard.

It’s not only at home either. The other week, my search for cheap martini glasses to use as party favors brought me to the glass aisle of Dollarama. Of course, being the dollar store and nine o’clock on a Friday night, there was no one around to help me. Every nerve in me was tense, for the great crash I was sure would come, as I stretched as high as I could to reach my prize, always careful not to use the shelf for support. My efforts, thankfully, were rewarded and I left unscathed, glasses in hand.

Life in the short lane has its perks though. I can wear heels (my “chocolate”) without worrying about low-flying aircraft. There’s room at the end of my bed for my two Build-a-Bears which, at nineteen, I am probably too old for anyway.

In the end, I am happy the way I am. Maybe I’m missing a few inches vertically and maybe I have a surplus horizontally, but I’m OK with that. In the words of Dale Griffith, “I like me.”

- Genevieve

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!

Ro, you and your team make shopping at Scrap Girls a true pleasure. I always know that if there’s any problem, every effort will be made to correct it. Kudos to everyone involved in making Scrap Girls such a wonderful place.

The team members have been great and I know lots of time has been put into this. I’ve learned things and pushed myself to try new things because of your commitment to Scrap Girls. Thank you! You are great!

There isn’t anything I can do to get back all of the scrapbook pages I had already created or was in the process of creating, but because of the fantastic customer service at Scrap Girls, I can at least re-download all of the things I need � without having to pay for them again! I can now start the monumental task of re-creating all of my work. I won’t stop telling everyone who will listen about how great your company is until I am old and gray! Thanks for creating and running a company that is superior in every way. You should be proud!

Yeah! I found you! First, I want to tell you how much I love Scrap Girls. You’ve done such a great job on the site. I was just recently introduced to digital scrapbooking, so I’ve spent many hours surfing the web and yours is my favorite.

I know you probably hear this all the time and it isn’t very unique or original, but thank you just isn’t enough sometimes. I participate in other online scrapbooking forums, but they do not compare to how good this one is.

You guys are prompt, helpful, resourceful and fair. The creativity abounds here - making it a fun, inspiring and USEFUL place to spend valuable time. I hope to be working with you and your team for a long, long time.

I wanted to thank you all for your awesome work! I am brand new to all of this digital scrapbooking, but I love it! I never could get along with the traditional method. It seemed like every time I took everything out, my children would have a field day! This way, there is nothing for them to get into and I can use elements over and over. It is very cost-effective and there is not much for my husband to have a fit over! Anyway, sorry for blabbing. I just want to thank you all and say you definitely have the premier web site for digital scrapbooking! Thanks again and I look forward to a lot more business with you.

I just want to say that now that I am finally getting into this new hobby (after how many years?) I am so proud of all the hard work you’ve put into this. I love your site, your offerings, and the training you provide. You are definitely a favorite of mine. I look forward to your tutorials!

I just got my new handy dandy MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed: Photoshop Elements today. I’ve put off buying it, but the newsletter this morning pushed me over the edge and I just had to have it. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying it. I had to go to work and leave it most of the day and I was not happy about that. Finally, I am home and able to play but, once again, I have to run an errand and leave.

Here is just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoy Ro’s little “ditties.” The stories are great, fun and, of course, so well written. Keep it up!

I just wanted to say thanks for your muses! I always read them and they are inspiring. I find myself nodding because I can relate to them! I look for them first and then the layouts. The freebie is great, too!

This last year, I have seen several people on Internet groups that I’m on write touchingly eloquent postings about relative or friends who have passed away. They are beautiful, but I always think to myself afterwards, I hope they told them how wonderful and important they were when they were alive to hear it! And, I wish they would have bragged about them to the rest of us sooner than this!

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

ATC Swap Chat Sunday, April 26th - 3:00PM ET Please join Sherry_Lynn and Michelle (Shelbi) in the chatroom at 3pm ET for our April ATC Swap Crop/Chat. For this month's challenge, we are doing ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) that feature “April Fool-ish Fun!” We can't wait to see the wacky cards you come up with! Scraplift Crop & Chat Sunday, April 26th - 5:00PM ET Join ManiakMama and angelaNussbaum for a Scraplift Crop. A few hours before the crop we will tell you exactly what you will be scraplifting and you will be able to let your creativity loose! Quote Challenge & Chat Sunday, April 26th - 8:00PM ET It's time for another Quote Challenge and Chat at 8pm ET in the Live Chat Lobby. Pat (PBarnes) will post a quote a few hours before the chat for you to create your own word art for your layout. Come and join the fun! Journaling Crop & Chat Tuesday, April 28th - 8:00PM ET Join Becca and angelaNussbaum for a Journaling Chat. It's always great to get some journaling on your layouts, to pass on the stories. This chat will be no exception, but with a wild twist. Join us and find out a fun way to journal! High Noon Crop Wednesday, April 29th - 12:00Noon ET Join Betsy and April Showers 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 29th, we'll do a multiple photo challenge! Create a layout on any theme, any topic, any colors - using multiple photos! You'll have one hour to create a layout and upload to the special High Noon Crop gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! We hope you'll join us! What's New Chat Friday, May 1st - 11:00AM ET Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Becca 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. 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 Laurel Lakey
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Designer Freebie by Syndee Nuckles coordinates with her Noteworthy Collection Biggie, part of this month's Scrap Girls Club offering!

* 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.