Layout by Ariadna Wiczling
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The last product is included in this month's ScrapSimple Club offering. Members receive a substantial discount on these club supplies. They are also available elsewhere in the Boutique at regular prices for those individuals who would rather not join a club.

Commercial license versions of Design Pack: Herbal, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PSE 8201, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Deep Shadows 6501 PSE and PS Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Paper Textures, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Freehand Coloring 8201 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Freehand Painting 8201 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Pencil Stroke 8201, Dynamic Brush Set: Paper Piercing 8201, Brush Set: Paint Stroke, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Well Loved and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Dirty Press are also available.

Layout by Melanie Johnson
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Aged Frames are also available.

Layouts by Theresa Kavouras
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Torn Paper Frames - Squares and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Fancy Folds 5 are also available.

Layout by dinny
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Posy and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Whisper are also available.

Layout by Amanda McGee
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Price Tags Biggie and Lettering Delights Mother's Typewriter Font are also available.

Calendar by Thao Cosgrove
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Bible Verses About Joy, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates - Calendar: Hopeful 2009, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Pencil Stroke 8201, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Freehand Coloring 8201 Super Biggie, Brush Set: Paint Stroke, Dynamic Brush Set: Drawing 5701 and Lettering Delights Painter's Hand Font are also available.

Layout by Durin Eberhart
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Character 5, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Character 2, Dynamic Brush Set: Sponge Painting 5101, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Faux Finish 3, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Distressed 5101 Super Biggie and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Gesso Biggie 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.

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:

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 - Kelly and Laurel
  Kelly (KellyChron) and Laurel (laurellakey) from the ScrapGirls Layout Artist Team invite you to join them in the chat room at 11am ET for a critique chat. Look for instructions on the ScrapGirls message board about where to post your layout. The team will offer suggestions and let you pick their brains about what makes a layout “work!”

• 12:00Noon ET – FREE CLASS! Gradient Map Magic for Photos - Jan
  Want to learn an easy way to change your photos from bland to spectacular? How about an easy way to change the tint of your photos, remove blue tones or create amazing black and whites, with a click of just a few buttons? Then be sure you don’t miss this mini class with Jan Hicks (ScrappingForever). And since it’s Mischief week, you can be sure there will also be some silliness and a prize given away! For Photoshop and Photoshop Elements users.

• 4:00PM ET – NSBR Chat - Early Edition - Michelle and Shari
  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 Michelle (Shelbi) and Shari (Shari PV Mom) at 4pm ET, in the chat room lobby! Hope to see you there!

• 7:00PM ET – University Chat - Shari and April
  Join Shari PV Mom and April Showers at 7pm ET for a special Mischief Week University Chat and Crop! We’ll provide you with a tutorial from the University. Create a layout created using the tutorial and post it in the gallery for a chance to win a prize! We hope you’ll come and have some fun with us!

• 8:00PM ET – Secret Pal Chat - Pat and Michelle
  You’ve asked for it and now it’s here! Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Pat (PBarnes) in the Live Chat Lobby at 8pm ET for the kick-off of a new round of Secret Pals. We’ll go over what being a Secret Pal is all about. You do not have to attend the chat to be a part of this Secret Pal round. The sign up will be posted on the Message Board on Friday, May 1st. We look forward to seeing you at the chat!

• 9:00PM ET – Hodgepodge Sketch Challenge Chat - Marnie
  Feel like mixing things up? Up to a digi challenge? Want to try to shake up your creativity? Come on down! Join Marnie (sprinklz) at 9pm ET for the Hodgepodge Sketch Challenge in the Scrap Girls Chat Room lobby. For our regular attendees, this sketch challenge will have a special Mischief Week twist (I know you are dying to know what it is... but you have to wait... it’s a secret.) For those that are unfamiliar with this challenge, sketches are basic outlines of a layout showing suggested placement of the photos, embellies, papers, and text. Feel free to follow the sketch as designed or change things around as you wish. A few hours before the chat, I’ll share the sketch link and give you an example layout. You may complete your own page before, during or after the chat � no time limits here! Hope to see you there for frolicking, silliness, and fun. And, oh, did I mention, there will be a prize!

• 10:00PM ET (12Noon - May 1st - Australian Eastern Time) – Aussie Mischief Chat - Jo and Karen
  Join Jo (ScrappingJo) and Karen (kazbar73) as we come together for a good old Aussie Mischief Chat. Like to know what we will be doing? Then you will have to come along and see what mischief we can all get up to Australian style.

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

I smelled it first. It smelled like something in my truck was burning. I looked around, didn’t see anything, so I kept going. The engine warning light was on, but it had been on for nearly a year, so I wasn’t concerned.

The smell got worse. I lifted my nose higher in the air, hoping that it could locate the source of the odor. While I sniffed, I kept going.

But then, I saw it – the smoke. It trailed out of the hood and sailed behind the truck like the tail of a white horse that is running across a field.

I could see the town in front of me. “Uncle Joe will know what to do,” I thought. “I’ll go there.”

I continued driving – even when a dreadful bang came from the front of the truck. I kept driving until I drove off the exit, past the Texaco gas station and up Main Street. I kept driving until I parked the truck in the driveway of my Uncle Joe’s car dealership.

Once I stopped, I got out, walked around to the front of the truck and popped the hood. I guess the hood had been holding the true depth of my problem inside and when I released it, I released the fury of an engine that was so devastated by its mistreatment that it blew its gasket with a shout, “I am never going to run again!”

Life Lesson One: If you are driving 75 miles an hour on the freeway and you begin to smell something burning, it is a good idea to stop and pull over.

Life Lesson Two: If your engine warning light doesn’t work correctly, fix it so that it can warn you when something goes wrong.

Life Lesson Three: Lifting your nose in the air does not enable you to increase the accuracy of odor detection.

Life Lesson Four: Explosive noises that are associated with vehicle engines are an indication that you and your vehicle will soon part ways.

- Ro

P.S. There is a happy ending to this story. The truck disaster happened when the Paxman family was in a deep financial crisis. My Uncle Joe wanted to haul it to the junkyard because we couldn’t afford to replace the engine. One day, we got a call from my husband’s father. He told us that when Gary’s brothers and sisters heard about the disaster, they all chipped in and paid for the repair. By the time we learned about it, the work was done!

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 CS3 with Windows XP.

I use color photos on most of my digital scrapbook pages but, sometimes, for a special effect, I like turning them into “works of art.” For this particular photograph, I want something that will make it stand out on the page.

ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PS 8201 contains six different actions. Two of the actions create an additional layer, which gives your photos a new look. That’s eight different photo effects. The action duplicates the original file, so you’ll never alter the original. All actions leave your image unflattened, which allows you to customize the final effect to your liking.

Run all six actions, returning to the original file every time you press the �Play� button.

Here is the effect after running the action called “AWI AlteredPhotos CP BlueYellow.” Turn on the visibility of the “Light” layer if your photo is too dark. Play with the Opacity of all layers.

Here is the effect after running the action called “AWI AlteredPhotos VioletSepia.”

Besides the aforementioned eight effects, you can get creative and combine them into an original setting. Here’s how: Duplicate your original file. (Image> Duplicate for PS and File> Duplicate for PSE.) Close the original file without saving any changes. Move the CP and Tint layers onto that duplicated file.

Here is my original photo with the Layers Palette visible.

Here is a close–up of the Layers Palette. It is important to note that the CP layers are the top layers and the Tint layers are below the CP layers. The bottom layer is the Light layer. Do not move the Contrast layer from any of the files. The CP layers already give enough contrast to your photo.

Turn on the visibility of the layers to see what effects you can create. I tried many combinations and here are a few effects I got by “mixing” the layers.

Cold green–cyan in shadows and warm yellow in highlights.

Warm dark brown in shadows and cold purple in highlights.

Dark blue in shadows and light blue in highlights.

I decided to do a digital scrapbooking layout using this last photo treatment. I keep the page very simple since I want to really highlight the photo. Notice that I use contrasting colors for the background, which makes my photo stand out even more.

Layout by Ariadna Wiczling
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PS 8201, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Warped PS 8201 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie, Dynamic Brush Set: Variae Formae 8201 and Brush Set: Photo Details Super Biggie are also available.

Tutorial written by Ariadna Wiczling

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

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! Baby Album Crop Tuesday, May 5th - 1:00PM ET Do you need some motivation getting those baby albums done? Children grow so fast; Let’s get those baby memories scrapped! You can scrap your children, grandchildren or even your own baby album. Join Carla (CRS) and Shari (Shari PV Mom) in the chat room on Tuesday, May 5th at 1pm ET to work on those albums! You can start from fresh on a brand new album, or jump in where ever you are in your project. We’ll provide an optional challenge each crop for motivation if you want one. This month, let’s scrap those Baby Shower photos or a special gift! Life Moments Crop & Chat Tuesday, May 5th - 3:00PM ET Please join Pat (PBarnes) in the Chat Room at 4pm ET for the Life Moments Chat and Crop. The Life Moments are about doing a scrapbook about yourself, one page at a time. High Noon Crop Wednesday, May 6th - 12:00Noon ET Join 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 May 6th, we'll do a white space challenge! Create a layout using white space. This "negative" or blank space guides the eye to the important areas of your page. Remember, it certainly doesn't have to be the color white! 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!

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 Amanda Sok
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Designer Freebie by Amanda Sok coordinates with her Hannah Collection

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Peeled Paint 1 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.