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

In order to make the date stamp in the upper left-hand corner look more realistic, I lowered the Opacity of the layer to 85%. I chose to do this because the background paper of my layout was dark, and it looked awkward for the lighter colored stamp appear so bright. In traditional scrapbooking, lighter ink would be muted by dark paper, and I like to have an accurate interpretation in my layouts.

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Bitsy BOLD, ScrapSimple Word Art Templates: Digi Dots - Boys and Girls Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and Lettering Delights Monique Font are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 & Apple iPhoto

Name of challenge: Use brushes in a unique way.

“Don’t Worry” by Kim Meeder
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I decided to make my own brush as an accent between the lines of journaling. First, I highlighted the layer that contained the green leaf accent. By using the Cmd+Click (Ctl+Click) shortcut while choosing the thumbnail, the embellishment was surrounded by marching ants. I placed a new layer above this layer and highlighted it. Next, I used the Edit> Stroke (Width: 8 px; Color: Black; Location: Outside) window to create an outline of the leaf. Finally, I used Edit> Define Brush Preset to create and name my new brush. I had the perfect coordinating accent for my journaling. Try making your own brush – you’ll discover just how easy it is.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Slice it Up are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3

Name of challenge: Use brushes in a unique way.

Other Ingredients:

• Font – Birch Std

Journaling: You look so worried in this photo, little one. Always remember that your Heavenly Father loves you and cares for you. He will keep you under the shadow of His wings. He will work all things together for good. He will keep you in perfect peace. He will never leave you or forsake you. He loves you with an everlasting love.

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“You Blow Me Away” by Julie Moberly
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

When finalizing this layout, it appeared that the alphas looked too flat against the brushwork. I applied a small outer glow from the Layer Styles in Photoshop Elements, then added Sarah Batdorf’s “Large – Color Match” option from her ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501.

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Chillin, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Chillin, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics PSE 5001, Brush Set: Circles Couture Biggie, Brush Set: Hana, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Stylish Swirls 5001 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Name of challenge: Use brushes in a unique way.

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

I love Dinny’s Brush Set: Chillin, but didn’t want to overwhelm this layout with swirls all over the page, so I decided to create a much more subtle effect. When I paper scrapped, one of my favorite types of paper was the embossed paper. I decided to recreate that look for my page about my daughter. With my paper in place, I created a new layer above the paper layer. On this layer, I brushed on the swirl design, careful to place it exactly where I want it. Next, I went into my Layer Styles (the little “f” at the bottom of the Layers Palette) and selected “Bevel and Emboss.” I added these settings and left the rest at their default values: Style � Inner Bevel, Technique � Smooth, Depth � 5%, Soften � 0 px. Then, on this same layer, change the Fill to 0%. Settings may need to be adjusted, depending on the desired look.

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Chillin, Lettering Delights Letterpress Font and Lettering Delights Warm Heart Font are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3

Name of challenge: Use brushes in a unique way.

“Age Is Just A Number” by Janine Buckles
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

The border across the bottom of my three images was made using a brush from Diane Miller’s Brush Set: Chillin. I placed it on my layout, duplicated it, flipped it and then moved the layers until I had one long shape, with the point where they join placed off–centre. I then merged the two brush layers and clipped my paper to it. In order to add interest to it, I applied the ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Edge It PSE 5001 to a plain stitch from the Dynamic Brush Set: Straight Stitch. I also used brushes from Brush Set: Typographic to frame part of my title, to add interest to the side and bottom edges. There’s no end to how many ways brushes can be used... even the squiggle through my title is a brush!

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Chillin, Brush Set: A Year to Remember: 2006-10 Biggie, Brush Set: Typographic, Dynamic Brush Set: Straight Stitch 5001, Brush Set: Edgy LINES, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Hodgepodge Collage Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Edge It PSE 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Photo Frames 6302, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: School Papers 6301, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Sew Doodly Biggie 3201 and Brush Set: Stamped Dates are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Name of challenge: Use brushes in a unique way.

Other Ingredients:

• Font – Phat

“Winter Wonderland” by Kara Swanson
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

My plan for this layout included a monochromatic color scheme. The embellishments I wanted to use weren’t the right color, so I used them as a clipping mask by placing a paper over the embellishment layer, and then using Ctrl+G and Ctrl+E to clip the paper to the embellishment shape. This resulted in the exact color I needed!

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Journal It are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0

Name of challenge: Use five photos.

“My Love” by Jo Corne
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

For the brush effect in the top right hand corner, I used Diane Miller’s Brush Set: Serene, set its size and ‘brushed’ it onto a new layer of its own. As it was brushed over the corner embellishments, I wanted it to be a ‘part’ of the corner area but still have some depth of its own. By using Erica Hite’s ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Punch Out 5401, I kept the image underneath but still gave the brush element the feel of being ‘pushed’ into the paper, giving it more of a three dimensional feel.

For the brush effect using Jan Hicks’ Brush Set: Life Quotes 2, I ‘brushed’ each version of the quote onto its own layer, resized it, changed its Blend Mode to “Overlay” and then moved them around until it looked like I had a created a new background paper.

The final effect I used, still using Jan’s Brush Set: Life Quotes 2, was to erase part of the quote I did not want, enlarging the remaining section and giving it Cheryl Barber’s ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Glitter Brights Super Biggie 4101.

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Serene, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Serene, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Punch Out 5401, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Glitter Brights Super Biggie 4101 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Photos 6301 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Name of challenge: Use brushes in a unique way.

Other Ingredients:

• Font – Segoe Script

“Erinn” by Amy Flanagan
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To cut the brush stroke shape out of the picture, I highlighted the brush stroke layer. Then I went to Select> Modify> Expand. I set the value to 35 pixels. Then I highlighed the photo layer and hit Delete. I have a nice cutout, just a bit wider than my brush stroke.

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Chillin and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Edgy, BOLD, are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Name of challenge: Use brushes in a unique way.

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.

Convention Mischief Game

I had a dream about the convention! In the story, an item is underlined. List each item and a link to a product in the Scrap Girls Boutique that contains the underlined item. Products can only be used once, although some underlined items may be repeated, which means that there is another product containing the same item.

Send your items, boutique links, message board member name (if you have one) to [email protected] by Midnight ET on Thursday, April 30th.

If you get all of the products and their links correct, you will be entered into a drawing for a $20 Gift Certificate. If you get half of the products and their links correct, you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 Gift Certificate. The remainder will be entered into a drawing for a $5 Gift Certificate.

Good luck and have fun!

I’m going to the Scrap Girls Convention!

I had a dream the other night about the Scrap Girls Convention. In my dream, it was October 7th, 2009, and I was packing for my trip! I got out my suitcase and packed my laptop first thing! The next thing I packed was my camera and extra memory cards. I threw in some clothes and I was all set!

On my way to the airport, I saw a neighbor of mine walking their pet tiger in the park. There were children riding their bikes in the park, but they didn’t seem afraid of a second tiger running loose. Normally, it only takes ten minutes to get to the airport, but we had to wait for a train to pass through.

As I checked in my suitcase at the ticket counter, the agent told me a story about her pet hamster. She said he loves to play with his beach ball & pail and shovel! I thought it was strange, but I was so excited about my trip that I didn’t pay much attention. I got my tickets and headed for security. The security agents were all wearing stethoscopes! As I went through the metal detector, it beeped at me! The agent waved his magic wand at me and then let me pass. I found my gate without any problem and sat down to wait for boarding to start.

The flight was fun. Moss was on my flight! And a soccer team from Mexico. One player had a band-aid on his forehead. We flew through a freak October blizzard, but that didn’t cause any delays. I took a rocket to the Guest House and checked in. I stopped to admire the scenery and breathe in that fresh Utah air. The trees had golden, orange and red leaves. I could feel the excitement in the air!

The next morning, I went over to the convention site early. The first person I saw was Angela Nussbaum! She was wearing a pink duct tape hat! Then I saw Valerie holding a baby bottle and burping a baby! What a sight! Over in the corner, sitting in a chair, were Carol Ann and Becca. They were talking about how wonderful Ro’s Software Secrets really is! And Ro was there, too, wearing a green dress!

The convention started right on time, at least according to my watch. We spent the day learning new techniques in the classes. I took notes with my notebook and pen. During a break, Pat showed me her grandfather’s pocket watch. It had a touching inscription, but I had to use a magnifying glass to read it! After the break, we did a round robin swap. We worked on a layout for five minutes, then rotated to the next seat, and worked on that layout. That layout was a challenge! I nearly spilled my coffee cup when I saw it! It had a blue brad, a pink ribbon, and a plaid tag. The photo was a man riding on a surf board. I wondered if I could find some shells to tie it all together.

We were about to switch seats again, when a surprise visitor appeared. The visitor started to sing “Rock of Ages” by Def Leppard! That’s when I realized my alarm clock was trying to wake me up. I rolled over in bed and hugged my teddy bear tightly. What a great dream! I think I’m going to mark off the days on my calendar with a purple crayon! I can’t wait!

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 15-19 correct answers, you will be entered into the drawing for a $10 Gift Certificate!
• If you get 10-14 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.

Good luck and happy gardening!

Here is the schedule for the week:

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 - April and Kelly
  Want to do something fun and different with your photos? Join KellyChron and April Showers in the chat room at 11am ET. About an hour before the chat, Kelly will post a challenge (with a tutorial) on the ScrapGirls Message Board.

• 1:00PM ET – Mischievious Freebie Crop - April and Carla
  Join April Showers and Carla (CRS) in the chat room for a mischievious freebie challenge crop at 1pm ET on Tuesday!

• 2:00PM ET – FREE CLASS! Customizing Your Twitter Background - Katherine
  Ever wonder how to customize your personal Twitter page? Join KatherineW in the chat room for a free mini class on customizing Twitter backgrounds with your favorite Scrap Girls products. Participate in the chat & you could win a ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Template!

• 3:00PM ET – FREE CLASS! Super Strokes Mini Class - Anna
  Are you looking for a really easy way to make your photos stand out on your layout? A quick way to make a mat or a frame? Do you want to turn text, embellishments, and custom shapes into stickers? Strokes are the way to go. They are quick and easy and oh, so versatile! Join Anna Mansfield (anna) for a mini class that’s all about strokes – the basics and beyond. Software specific – Photoshop Elements.

• 8:00PM ET – Mischievious Journaling Chat - Becca and Angela
  Join Becca and angelaNussbaum for a special 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!

• 9:00PM ET – New Member Chat - Carol Ann and Pat
  Are you new to Scrap Girls and wondering what all this mischieviousness is about? Join Carol Ann (Zaz) and Pat (PBarnes) in the Live Chat Lobby at 9pm ET. We’ll be there to answer questions about getting around the Scrap Girls site or digital scrapbooking in general. We’ll have some fun and games too. Please come! (Long time members are welcome too.)

Wednesday, April 29th

• 12:00Noon ET – High Noon Crop - Betsy and April
  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’d be amazed what you can get done in just one hour!

• 3:00PM ET – Wacky Ad Challenge - Sherry Lynn
  Have you had enough mischief yet? If not, come join Sherry_Lynn in the chat room at 3pm ET for a Crazy Ad Challenge and Chat! Here’s how it works: A few hours before the crop I will post the ad for those of you that would like a head start. Then, do a layout that is inspired by our wacky ad. Of course, there will be a prize to give away at the chat too!

• 6:00PM ET – FREE CLASS! Alpha Brush Mini Class - Debbie
  Join Debbie (dlayden) at 6pm ET for a free mini class on creative ways to use alpha brushes!

• 8:00PM ET – Desktop Crop - Becca and Angela
  Join Becca and angelaNussbaum for the Desktop Crop. With May almost here, and a wacky week upon us, it’s definitely time to get a new desktop made! We will be doing something wild and wacky, so watch the message board for a thread that will be posted a few hours before the chat for your challenge.

• 9:00PM ET – Oddball Trivia & Mischievious Facts Chat - Marnie and Sherry Lynn
  Are you a master at Trivial Pursuit? Do you know lots of arcane bits of information? Do your friends call you Norm (like the trivia king character in Cheers)? Well, we have the chat for you! Join Marnie (sprinklz) and Sherry_Lynn at 9pm ET for the Oddball Trivia & Mischievious Facts Challenge in the Scrap Girls Chat Room lobby. Not only will silly questions and useless information abound, but there will be lots of fun noises, good laughs, and super cool prizes. Bring your thinking caps and be part of the adventure!

• 10:00PM ET – Late Night Scrapper’s Chat - Kelly and Debbie
  Are you a night owl? Do you stay up until the wee hours of the morning scrapping? Then join Debbie (dlayden) and Kelly (KellyChron) in the chat room at 10pm ET for some late night scrapping and fun!

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.

Oprah’s Suggestion

I always find these Designer’s Life articles challenging. It’s not because I don’t have anything to say, to explain or to talk about. It’s because I can’t imagine what about my life you would find interesting. It’s more likely that you would come to the conclusion that I am a bit crazy!

A few months back, I was given a red, spiral–bound journal. My family had decided to write some of the things they love most about me. Since they are the ones that know me best, they can maybe explain me a bit better than I can. Oprah had suggested this on her show one day when my hubby Bren had been surfing the channels. I would have to say that this is the best gift my family could have ever given me. I am well and truly blessed!

From my husband:

RED
I love the way you love RED.
The way you use red in life. That red purse or the red scarf, all are highlights to your dynamic personality and bold artistry.

Your EYES! They’re hazel. That suits you, since you never know for sure what you’re thinking. Are they blue? Are they green?

Your BRAIN. You can think so fast about so much. That is incredible! Lightning speed, with laser–cutting accuracy.

Your NAME! Syndee S Y N D E E Syndee
Original, lovely, unusual, all you!

Your ART. I love the images you create. Your hands extend the creativity of your mind. We are so very lucky to peer inside your imagination!

The way you WRITE. I love to read a note from you. I love your letter forms and your doodles. They’re usually hearts.

Your LATE schedule. I love how you can’t go to sleep early and wake up early. I love it! It’s totally Syndee. I can’t understand it, but that’s that!

Your DREAMS. I love your dreams. They are kind of crazy, but they are supposed to be weird. I just don’t like your nightmares about being late to check out of a motel room.

The way you take an item off the shelf. You take the second or third one. Never the one in front.

The way you EAT. You’re very selective of food and you are careful with the way you eat it. You don’t like food touching other food on your plate.

Your LISTS. You make lists everywhere. So many lists, sometimes I think you need to make a list of your lists.

From my oldest daughter Kendahl:

How focused and disciplined you are with your work is astonishing. You are so creative and can come up with things so quickly, it’s awe–inspiring. You are a great example.

From Brevyn, my youngest son:

(When asked what he loves about Mommy)
“Um. She’s nice and she, well everything!”
How she will sit and let me read to her out of my bug book and look at all of the icky spiders.

From my daughter Kailey:

Your CRAZY ideas. You know, the ones you have late in the night when you’re sitting in your favorite chair. You suddenly have a new idea to move the living room around. Or, the time you decided we should stay up until 6:00 a.m. and go to the flea market. Or, when we were sitting in Kendahl’s room and had a wonderful idea where to put every single thing in her room. All these little things I cherish.

Your signature SCENT. I love it when you are all dressed up and, as we leave the house, I catch a whiff of your perfume. You only have two because you simply don’t like any others that much. I think it’s adorable you loved the scent of Giorgio so long before you finally bought it for yourself.

Your MEMORIES. I could listen to your memories for hours. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of your childhood memories, like how you only got a half of a Ding Dong in your lunch because your family was poor. Or, the time you had to go inside Kendahl’s school when you were pregnant and wearing a bathrobe.

From Taylor, my oldest son:

I love the STORIES you tell us about when you were a kid.

How supportive you are with my Star Wars and Indiana Jones obsessions.

How you love to play CARD games, too.

That you let me PLAY Pac-Man on your iPhone.

So, you can see I am so blessed and when I am feeling a bit down about myself all I have to do is leaf through my wonderful little, red book. I laugh and cry and it conjures up all kinds of ideas for digital scrapbooking projects!

Happy day!

- Syndee

Favorite product I've designed:
ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Photos 6301

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Photos 6301 are also available.

I love the look of aged photos and these digital scrapbooking styles take a photo and transform it with the click of a button! I love that!

Layout by Syndee Nuckles
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Isn't it Grand and Brush Set: Tapestry Alphabet Biggie are also available.

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!

The Scrap Girls Monthly Club allows you to get all of the newest looks while saving money! It is perfect for anyone who wants beautiful, coordinated digital scrapbooking supplies that are easy to use. You get all the products shown above, a $29.33 value, for $9.99 or less! Plus, each month we will help you find new ways to use your club contents to the fullest with this article full of ideas, tips, and projects to get your creativity going!

April’s Scrap Girls Club’s featured designer is Syndee Nuckles. Her club is full of beautiful products that can help you document your photos and get creative in amazing ways. Our entire Scrap Girls staff has put their heads together and come up with some ideas to help you get the most out of your fun, new digital scrapbooking toys!

Scrap Girls Club Concepts Tutorial: Mother’s Day Gifts with Digital Scrapbooking Supplies

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and I thought I would put together a few ideas that you can create with digital scrapbooking products.

If you don’t already know it, one of the VERY best values for digital scrapbooking products is the monthly clubs here at Scrap Girls. You pay one price (such as no more than $9.99 for the Scrap Girls Club or $6.99 for the ScrapSimple Club) and you get several products. It’s like buying one product but getting 4-5 products for free. How can you beat that?

If you factor in that these are digital products which means that they can be used OVER and OVER again, well, their value increases greatly. Of course you are going to use the club products for your own digital scrapbooking layouts, but don’t let it stop there – use it to create greeting cards or other gifts that will put a smile on someone’s face.

Here’s some ideas that are super simple for Mother’s Day. They will work well for any special woman – mom, grandma, aunt, teachers:

Coupons

Create unique and easy gift certificates or coupons good for “a free home cooked dinner” or “making the bed” using a frame type embellishments and ScrapSimple Layer Your Own: Coupon Biggie to stamp out your message, then print, cut and present to your loved one.

Gift Coupon by Brandie Valenzuela
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Coupon Biggie and AMC_Friendly Font are also available.

Magnets

Just about everyone has an old CD. Now you can give it a second life by creating a special Mother’s Day magnet. Simple design your magnet with ScrapSimple Craft Template: Altered CD, print, adhere to a cd, and attached a magnet to the back of the CD. Looks particularly great hung on a refrigerator or filing cabinet.

Magnet by Brandie Valenzuela
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Altered CD are also available.

Greeting Cards

By using ScrapSimple Card Templates you can make a Mother’s Day card with ease. Use a premade embellishment cluster, such as the one available in Noteworthy Collection Biggie, and you will have the card done in no time at all.

Card by Brandie Valenzuela
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Card Templates: 5.5x4.25 Blocky are also available.

This is just a sampling of the gifts that can be made for Mother’s Day. Visit our ScrapSimple Card and Craft Template section for even more great ideas on how you can make your Club subscription do double duty.

Tutorial written by Brandie Valenzuela

We hope this article gives you some ideas to get you scrapping! We’d love to see what you come up with. You can share ideas and tips on the message board, plus there’s a special gallery available for you to show off your Club creations and inspire each other, so start creating!

And remember, this club will be expiring in just a few days! So if you like these ideas, don't hesitate to sign up today, or you will miss your chance to get in on these tremendous savings! It's like buying the Collection Biggie and getting the coordinating Paper Super Mini, Word Art, Embellishment Set, Assemble Your Own Zoom Page Set, and Designer's Choice Item for free! Now, that's a bargain. Don't miss out!

Have fun!

P.S. We hope you are enjoying this article, Club Concepts. Each Monday, we give you ideas on how to use your current club selections in many different ways. We give you ideas for layout themes, embellishments, tips, cards, quotes, projects, and more! Well, we have realized that in creating these articles, we were leaving out one of the most important voices in our club... yours! So, we would like to announce that we will be looking for your help in creating these articles. And, of course, there are prizes involved!

How can you get involved, you may ask? Simply post your new layout using the current club selection (either the Scrap Girls club or the ScrapSimple club) in our Scrap Girls Club Members' Gallery or ScrapSimple Club Members' Gallery. Be sure to list all of the Scrap Girls products you used, as well as a short (1-2 sentence) description of the unique idea or theme your layout shows off. If your layout and its corresponding tip is chosen, they will be showcased in our Club Concepts article, and you will win a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

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

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! ATC Mixed Media Crop & Swap Sunday, May 3rd - 3:00PM ET Do you love mixed media? Ever wondered what it is exactly or about giving it a try? Love to exchange cards through snail mail? Then this crop is for you. Break out your creative thoughts, your favorite Scrap Girls supplies, some paper, pens, and whatever else comes to mind. Join Sherry_Lynn at 3pm ET for our Mixed Media ATC Crop and Swap. Card Chat Monday, May 4th - 8:00PM ET Join Michelle (Shelbi) for the once a month Card 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 scrap stash to make any cards we might need for the upcoming month – birthday cards, thank you cards, get well cards, various holiday cards. This month will be doing Mother’s Day cards. See you there!! NSBR Chat Monday, May 4th - 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!

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 Melanie Johnson
larger view

Designer Freebie by Melanie Johnson coordinates with her Brush Set: Photo Details Super Biggie

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Artsy - Watercolor 1, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Embed 1801 and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos Biggie 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.