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Here's your chance to haul away the digital scrapbooking supplies you've been drooling over. They'll be perfect for scrapping your fun summer photos! But remember, the cart is leaving town and the sale will be over Midnight MST, June 15th. Don't miss it!
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Last Goodbyes
Generally, when I write my feelings down, I have a layout mapped out in my head. The beginning - it has to catch your interest. The middle - giving just a bit of background if needed, the basis for the anecdote, with the occasional piece of humor thrown in for good measure. And, the end - hopefully uplifting and if a moral of the story can be encompassed then so much the better.
This anecdote is a little different as I am unable to write the ending at this present point in time. Not that I’m complaining - far from it. I’m rejoicing in that fact.
You see, this is about having to say final goodbyes. Saying any kind of goodbye has never been my forte. Over the years, I’ve managed to gain a certain amount of dignity and decorum when faced with the daunting task of moving from my home country of New Zealand to America or just moving to our next assignment within America... if you call bucket-loads of tears decorum!
The final goodbyes I’m writing about are the ones that I will be facing within a few short weeks, when I return to my home country. The goodbyes will be the “in person” ones at least. I will have more conversations over the phone. They will be to the man that is behind my being on this earth.
I could give you my drawn-out family story but, luckily, these muses have a word limit. Basically, it boils down to the fact that when I was born, I was given up for adoption. Later on in my life, I was fortunate enough to meet my birth parents. They had married each other the year after my birth and now have a family of five children.
The first moment I saw my birth father I was smitten and I hazard a guess that he liked me as well. Due to circumstances, we only saw each other intermittently over the years, but every time I saw him his face would light up and that caused a ripple effect on my heart. I lost my father (the man that had adopted me) when I was a teenager and this has left a deep, painful gash in my heart. Even though this man couldn’t fill that spot - nobody ever will - he definitely has an emotional impact on my life and makes me feel like I was part of his life.
Not many people in my life have sought me out, but this man did.
Last week, I received that dreaded phone call... “How’s the weather? How’s your health? I’m sorry to say this, but there’s an ulterior motive to my calling you...” You know, the kind of call that we all dread! For me, it means a 28-hour plane trip (with airport stop-overs) to the other side of the world to say goodbye to someone whom I quite literally owe my life.
What do I say when I see him? I have absolutely no idea. “Thanks” seems a tad laid back and hardly even touches on the depth of my love for this man that I was never able to call dad. “I love you” seems somehow flippant, but entirely relevant in so many ways and on so many levels. Maybe I should start reading poetry and prose in the hope that something jumps out at me and screams “use me because I cover all of the bases.”
Whatever the final decision is, one thing I know for sure, I will take with me the knowledge that this man loved me unconditionally without even knowing me at first. When I see him and hug him I hope that in some tiny way I am able to convey just how much it has meant to me to be able to call this beautiful man my birth father.
- Carole
Muse: To be absorbed in one's thoughts; engage in meditation. Not intended to solve the world's problems, another person's problems, or to cover topics completely. One does not have to agree with musings to enjoy them, just as one does not have to be the same as someone else to appreciate who they are.
Note from Ro: Would you like to earn a $20 Gift Certificate? Send your own muse to [email protected]. If it is selected for publication in the Scrap Girls newsletter, you'll get to have fun shopping!
Ro is now spotlighting various Scrap Girls members, showing layouts, and running contests in her blog. If you end up being spotlighted in it, you'll get a little gift from her. Subscribe to her blog so you don't miss what is going on!
Ro has recently spotlighted mtorres_usa, teabaglady, and daisies803! |
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Important to Know: Retirement Sale |
We've just opened a Retirement Sale section of the Boutique. Items in this section are always on sale for 30% off. The items you will find during any particular month will be discontinued permanently on the 5th of the following month. So if you see something you like, grab it while you can! |
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What Customers Are Saying... |
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wonderful tutorial. I love the ScrapSimple things and I belong to the ScrapSimple Club and this is just the perfect companion for using them.
Can I just tell you how much I appreciate your store? You are all so friendly, helpful, on the ball, great with scrapping advice and seem to be genuinely great people. I love the muses, stories, scrap samples, etc. Every time I get an email from your store, I have to smile. Thank you for brightening our days. I would love it if you could pass this on to Rozanne. Too many times people take the time to complain when something goes wrong, but don't take a minute to say great job! Thank you for all you do and your encouraging words to us all. You never know how much you touch someone with those words. When you have a bad day, sometimes all you need are a few nice words to keep you going. You are all awesome!
Please keep up the excellent work you do because I'm sure that there are many others just like me that appreciate all of the effort you put forth.
Thank you for such a fantastic site and your newsletters are fabulous. I can't
wait to read them. They are such an inspiration to someone as new to digital scrapbooking as me.
You have wonderful digital papers and elements. It's great!
I just printed out my transparencies and they are fabulous. I can't believe it! The best part is that I can print them over and over again. I am a believer now. The craft store won't see me for quite a while. Thank you so much for your help and inspiration.
I am responding to the letter of "thanks for my business" from Ro. I am very satisfied with all of the purchases that I have made from your company. Angie has helped me several times and has always been speedy and generous with her time. I do not have a single complaint about anything. However, I would like to let you know a few things that I would like you to never change:
- Please continue the daily newsletter. It cheers me up to see it in my mailbox each morning.
- The examples that you show are what convince me that I cannot live without that item.
- I love being able to shop and have my order stay in the boutique day after day until I think I am done. That is such a convenience that I have not seen anywhere else. Love it.
- Your products are, without a doubt, the best value for the money.
- The monthly scrap club is like Christmas each month. What a joy to see the first of the month roll around.
- For a novice digital scrapbooker (less than six months) with very limited computer savvy, Angie has been such a help. Sometimes, I feel like starting my email to her with "Sorry to bother you again, but..." She is always so helpful and never makes me feel stupid. Thank you.
Great job, Scrap Girls. I don't shop anywhere else.
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Layout and Contest Winners |
Weekly Layout Winners |
Layout by catinkeri
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Layout by katiemo
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Want to see your layouts make an appearance
in the Scrap Girls newsletters?
Simply post your digital or paper layouts that use Scrap Girls products in our online gallery, and if we choose your layout to be featured in the newsletter, you'll win a prize! To be considered, don't forget to list the Scrap Girls products that you used in your layout.
Congratulations to this week's selectees. Please email [email protected] to get your gift!
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Are you interested in becoming a product designer at Scrap Girls? Now is your chance!
Scrap Girls is seeking high quality product designers for their Scrap Girls Product Design Team.
Download the informational PDF to learn more.
Note: If you have problems with the PDF, right-click on the link and choose "Save Target" from the menu. Sometimes PDFs are hard to open online. |
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What's Happening at Scrap Girls? |
If you have never been to the Scrap Girls Chat Room before or have questions about it, this tutorial, Chat Basics, will provide lots of helpful information.
Crops and Chats |
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ScrapSimple Club Chat
Sunday, June 14th - 3:00PM ET
We know everyone is excited for the new ScrapSimple Club to come out June 15th. Come join Sherry_Lynn at 3pm ET for a ScrapSimple Club Chat/Crop! We'll be discussing ideas on different ways to use the current club. As a challenge, let's create one more layout using May's ScrapSimple Club before the next one arrives. May Club Designers Brandie Valenzuela (brandiev) and Ariadna Wiczling (scrapariadna) will be joining us for this chat! It's sure to be a blast! Hope to see you there!
Quote Challenge Chat
Sunday, June 14th - 4:00PM ET
Come join Pat (PBarnes) for the Quote Challenge Crop at 4pm ET. Including a quote on your layout can be a touching and meaningful addition, especially if you use the quote to create your own word art. Here's how it will work. On Sunday, Pat will post a thread on the Chat section of the board giving you the quote that you will use to make your own word art. It's not hard, and I will have a layout with a word art example in the gallery. Then we'll meet in the chat room to have fun, chat, and create our word art layout! Everyone can participate and create a layout, even if you can't make the chat. Hope to see you there!
Recipe Swap Crop
Sunday, June 14th - 9:00PM ET
Please join Danna (scrappylibrarian) and April (April Showers) for our Monthly Recipe Swap chat at 9pm ET. The theme for the month will be posted on the Message Board on Thursday, June 11 - so be sure to watch for it!
Coffee Break Chat
Monday, June 15th - 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 on Monday 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, June 16th - 3:00PM ET
Join April (April Showers) at 3pm 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.
Life Moments Crop
Tuesday, June 16th - 10:00PM ET
Join Amy (ManiakMama) for the latest installment of our Life Moments Crop series. On the day of the chat, the topic will be posted on the message board.
High Noon Crop
Wednesday, June 17th - 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 June 17th, we'll do a texture challenge! Create a layout using textures - either a richly detailed photograph, a textured paper, embellishments, whatever! Add some texture! 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!
Heritage Crop
Thursday, June 18th - 8:00PM ET
Do you have boxes of heritage photos just waiting to be restored and scrapped? Are there family stories just waiting for you to write down and preserve? Then this is the crop for you! Join April (April Showers) and Carla (CRS) for the Heritage Crop and Chat! We'll help you get motivated to scrap those heritage photos and record your family stories for future generations to enjoy.
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June Events |
June Message Board Game: Re-JUNE-venate!
We helped you jumpstart your January and now it's time to re-JUNE-venate your focus on scrapbooking! Join us on the message board this month for "Re-JUNE-venate"! This is a message board game and challenge that focuses on taking time to scrapbook regularly despite the little speedbumps of life. When the month is over you'll have completed several layouts and been challenged and treated to some fun along the way... with prize opportunities thrown in as well!
A member of the Welcoming Committee will post a mini-challenge/task every day from June 1-30. Some tasks will require message board participation, email responses or gallery posting. Read each daily task carefully to see what is required of you. Those who complete all tasks and submit or post required participation will be entered in a drawing to win one of three $10 Gift Certificates to the ScrapGirls Boutique! Those who complete just the layouts will be entered in a drawing to win one of two $5 gift certificates. Those who complete just the speedbumps will be entered in a drawing for one of two $3 gift certificates. (Those who complete all tasks will have their name entered in all three drawings!)
Join us in June for some serious scrapbooking re-JUNE-venation!
Layout Contests:
June Monthly Layout Contest: Do you have cobwebs and dust bunnies that need cleaning? How about some mental spring cleaning? Scrap it! For the June Monthly Layout Contest, we want to see your layouts featuring Spring Cleaning, either physical or mental. You could win a $10 gift certificate to the boutique if your layout is chosen! Just post your layouts in the June Monthly Layout Gallery before June 30th at Midnight EDT 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. We can't wait to see all your inspiring layouts!
May Mid-Month Layout Contest: Even though it isn't officially summer (or winter in the Southern Hemisphere), in many places it's getting very close. For this layout contest, we want to see layouts about what you look forward to at this time of the year. Is it summer barbeques, days at the beach, or long summer evenings? You could win a $10 gift certificate to the boutique if your layout is chosen! Just post your layouts in the May Mid-Month Layout Gallery before June 15th at midnight EDT 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.
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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.)
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Last Goodbyes
Saturday, June 13, 2009
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- 19.6% off Cart It Away Sale!
- Cute Stuff
- Customer Muse
- Retirement Sale
- What Customers Are Saying...
- Layout and Contest Winners
- Product Design Team Call
- What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
- Designer Freebie
- 2009 Digital Scrap Link Convention Information!
- Getting Started
- Expand Your Skills
- Online Classes Currently Available
- Scrap Girls Clubs
- Ongoing Opportunities for YOU
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The Scrap Girls newsletter is created for you by a virtual army of Scrap Girls team members. Without them, we couldn't possibly share these resources with you, and I'm very grateful for their ongoing help and support.
I hope you enjoy today's issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
Ro
CEO - Scrap Girls, LLC
P.S. Your email address is safe with us. We never share, rent, sell, or loan our list with anyone!
P.P.S. If you ever need any assistance, please email [email protected] or call
866-598-3444 and we'll help you as quickly as possible!
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Scrap Girls is Having a Convention! |
Here are the facts:
When: October 8-10th, 2009
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah
What's Included
- 4 (four) meals (two lunches and two dinners)
- A Collection Biggie, designed especially for the convention
- Other free digital scrapbooking supplies, designed for class materials
- PDFs of the class materials
- Action-packed classes on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Crops, games, and time to hang out and make friends with other Scrap Girls
- The chance to meet in person and get help from Scrap Girls designers, layout artists, and welcoming committee members
- Memories that will last forever!
How many people may attend? Only 126 and over half of the seats are sold after only three months of being on sale! Don't miss out on this opportunity - secure your place now!
Note: Convention begins at 1:00 pm - Thursday, October 8th and ends at 6 pm - Saturday, October 10th.
Want to save on your expenses when you come to the convention?
- Lots of our attendees share rooms to save on their expenses. We have a special forum on our messageboard where people can find roommates here.
- It would also be important to know that if you choose to stay at the University House, your breakfasts are included and you won't have to worry about getting back and forth because it is right next to the Officer's Club. We've got you covered!
We hope you come because you're special to us and we are dying to meet you. Scrap Girls is all about making friends while we enjoy the hobby that allows us to save our memories in a fun way. Having you with us would be awesome!
Sign up now!
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Free eBook "starter kit" turns your dreams of digital scrapbooking into reality today!
This dynamite eBook is 65 pages - packed full of the information, ideas, and help people need when they are about to dive into this great hobby. It answers all of the important questions new digital scrapbookers have. They are all here for you - in one easy to use eBook!
Bonus! Download the free "Warning" Label, too. It was created for you by Valerie Randall as a little bit of extra fun!
Would you like a chance to try digital scrapbooking yourself?
Scrap Girls' Refresh Collection Biggie offers you free samples of some of our most popular product types. Try making a layout, your own paper with a ScrapSimple Paper Template, a fast layout with a ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template, or experiment with a brush.
We know you'll love digital scrapbooking as much as we do, and we have thousands of products to feed your new addiction!
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 6.0 and 7.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 5.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 4.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 3.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed (Photoshop 7, CS, CS2 and CS3)
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro (PSP) X
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro (PSP) 9
Do you wish you could learn how to scrapbook digitally, but feel kind of intimated? Well, here's the solution for you! This large set of video tutorials allow you to actually watch Ro scrapbook. And because Ro covers such a large number of topics in this item, it is one of the most cost-effective digital scrapbooking tutorial series available today. No wonder tens of thousands of people have chosen Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed as their method of learning to scrapbook digitally!
In the tutorials, you'll see Ro working on her computer and hear her talking about why she is doing what she is doing. It's like having Ro come to your home and give you private scrapbooking lessons. You can create digital scrapbooking layouts today!
Start to Finish eBooklets
Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: Making a Just Because Card Using ScrapSimple Card Templates
Nothing could be simpler than learning to scrapbook digitally with Scrap Girls Start to Finish eBooklets. Step by step written guidelines and detailed screenshots will help you learn new digital scrapbooking skills. Included with the eBooklet are the actual digital files you need to create a finished project!
More Titles Available |
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Photo Restoration in Photoshop
Wednesdays, June 17 and 24 - 9:00PM ET
This in-depth digital scrapbooking class on basic photo restoration is the perfect opportunity to learn about some of the Photoshop tools most often utilized for restorative techniques. Using various methods, this class will teach you how to restore torn, discolored, faded, and odd-shaped photos for printing, digital scrapbooking, and web uploading
Amazing Out Of Bounds Photos - Photoshop
Mondays, June 22 and 29 - 1:00PM ET
This in-depth online digital scrapbooking class is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to create fun out of bounds photos for your computer scrapbooking layouts. This step by step instruction will show you how to use two different methods to achieve this effect; the Lasso Tool method and Layer Mask method and to know the difference between non-destructive and destructive methods.
Study real examples and see how this methodical and simple approach adds that little something extra to your layouts. We will discuss different ways to use our designs, how to use frames set at an angle and adding perspective to the frame border for a realistic effect. The 'Out of Bounds' technique adds another personal touch to your scrapbook layouts.
Amazing Out Of Bounds Photos - Photoshop Elements
Tuesdays, June 23 and 30 - 1:00PM ET
This in-depth online digital scrapbooking class is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to create fun out of bounds photos for your computer scrapbooking layouts. This step by step instruction will show you how to use two different methods to achieve this effect; the Lasso Tool method and Layer Mask method and to know the difference between non-destructive and destructive methods.
Study real examples and see how this methodical and simple approach adds that little something extra to your layouts. We will discuss different ways to use our designs, how to use frames set at an angle and adding perspective to the frame border for a realistic effect. The 'Out of Bounds' technique adds another personal touch to your scrapbook layouts.
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Join the Scrap Girls Monthly Club and you can have fun with the newest traditional digital and printable scrapbooking looks while saving! (A $27.94 value for $9.99 or less!)
The Scrap Girls Club contents are released on the 1st day of the month (or the closest business day to the 1st).
With the Scrap Girls Club, you will receive:
- 1 Collection Biggie
- 1 Paper Super Mini
- 1 8.5x11 Sheet of Word Art
- 1 Embellishment Set
- 1 Assemble Your Own Zoom Page Set
- 1 Designer's Choice Item
Layout by Kim Meeder using June's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Keri Schueller
Remember, these items are available separately in the Boutique at regular prices for those who would rather not join a club.
Note: The Scrap Girls Club contents are always available for sale elsewhere in the Boutique at their regular prices once the associated club month is released. But all club contents are totally brand new, never seen before product releases for each month! |
Join the ScrapSimple Monthly Club and you can enjoy the newest ScrapSimple looks while saving! (A $13.95 value for $6.99 or less!)
The new ScrapSimple Club contents are released on the 15th day of the month (or the closest business day to the 15th).
With the ScrapSimple Club, you will receive:
- 1 ScrapSimple Paper Template Set
- 1 ScrapSimple Embellishment or Word Art Template Set
- 1 Brush Set
- 2 Designer's Choice Items
A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple club is also available here.
Layout by Karen Chandler using May's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Ariadna Wiczling and Brandie Valenzuela
Alert! Alert! TOMORROW is the last day you can sign up for the ScrapSimple club and still get this great group of products at this amazing price. Don't delay... sign up now!
If you prefer not to join a club, the ScrapSimple club contents are available at regular prices in the Boutique. You can easily find them right now by checking the What's New? section of the Boutique.
Note: The ScrapSimple Club contents are always available for sale in the Boutique at regular prices once the associated club month is released. But all club contents are totally brand new, never-seen-before product releases for each month! |
Customer Muses: Would you like to share your own Life Muse with our readers? To have your own essay considered for publication as a muse in the column for our special Saturday newsletter, send your essay to [email protected]. If your essay is selected, you will receive a $20 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique.
Way Cool Scrap Girl: We are so excited to have all of you meet some of the amazing people that have become Scrap Girls! If you would like to be spotlighted and win a $25 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique, send the following items to [email protected]:
- 500-900 word essay about your experience with digital scrapbooking, Scrap Girls, and specific examples of how we have helped you.
- A 600-pixel wide, 72 dpi copy of a layout you've created that uses Scrap Girls products, plus a complete list of those products.
- A 100-pixels wide, 72 dpi picture of yourself.
- Permission to use your statement.
Club Concepts: We would like to announce that we will be looking for your help in creating these Club Concepts articles. 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. 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!
Suggest a Challenge, Win a Prize! Have a great idea for a gallery layout challenge? Submit it to [email protected]. If your challenge idea is chosen, you will win a prize! Friday will be Customer Challenge Day, so keep an eye out on the message board calendar. It will be fun to see what YOU come up with for us to do!
 Scrap Girls is giving away birthday gifts to our message board members! Of course, it is a surprise what you will get because birthday presents are always surprises! But you will like it for sure because most people like money... Anyway, make sure your message board email address is current and that you have the correct date entered into your profile to participate.
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