The bills are coming in from Christmas. The economy is in bad shape. Due to previous high gas prices, my gas charge card is over the top. Important, smart people are getting arrested for taking advantage of elderly, friends, relatives, charities and unsuspecting investors. Rain is coming and going - snowflakes, too - it is overcast and dismal outside. The housework is piling up, the kids don’t want to do their homework, and the dog just tracked in mud on my clean kitchen floor.

My husband is irritable, trying to maintain his job and satisfy so many customers. The job market is getting slimmer and slimmer, so we are hanging on by a thread. We work for a company that does not provide necessities, but extravagance. Our jobs could be the next cut. We are not relatives, nor are we senior employees.

The house needs a new roof, the car needs a tune up and the kids need to see the dentist.

It is tough times that demand tough, immediate answers. We need to respond with a big package and a long-term plan. I got that statement from the president-elect. So, I’ve scheduled an in-home crop for my friends and relatives. We can preserve our past, accent the fun, exciting times, journal the progress and accomplishments of the grandkids, and document history for the next generation.

Fortunately for us, we have acquired a stockpile of supplies. We have enough beautiful paper to carry us until the next president is elected. With food and music, we can eliminate the bad news from TV. We can share our interests, concerns and successes. My girl friends and I do scrapbooking by committee. We ask for and enjoy structured criticism, as well as humorous and creative alternative suggestions. We share our supply wealth, we discuss dieting while eating chocolate and we reminisce about raising kids and brag about grandkids.

In our crop circle, we settle world problems, we counsel on family problems, we lament over greedy executives, and we recycle scraps into beautiful cards. This is our part for global warming. Yes, people, we have the answer to all our troubles... crop until you drop, scrap until you pack and edit pictures until you look thinner and younger. Yes, in our little circle we have all the answers and the cures to all the country’s ills. Friendship and companionship are the real wealth in society.

- Dee Van

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.

SCRAP GIRLS CLUB

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

If you prefer not to join a club, the Scrap Girls 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 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!

SCRAPSIMPLE CLUB

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 Paula Wright using June's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Paula Wright and Syndee Nuckles

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!

Thank you so much! This is why I love Scrap Girls. Not only do I love the products, but your customer service is outstanding!

Thanks for noticing, for caring and for the link to download the March Scrap Girls collection! I actually did download them in time, but I didn't double-check that I got them all because I got called into work and had to work almost 15 hours. So, thanks for the extra link.

I debated and debated over whether to try out the Scrap Girls Club. I almost joined a month ago because I liked the collection so much. But, finances were tight because my computer died and my hours were cut at work. Then, I regretted not joining. But, this month I got some extra hours, so I debated and debated again until the very last second! Last night, the newsletter said that today was the last day so I hurried and joined.

It is amazing to me that the Scrap Girls team is always so customer aware and they all care about us. You are especially amazing because you are always there to answer questions and send links when I do something dumb like accidentally delete my files without a backup. I don't think any other company is so committed to their customers! That is why I like Scrap Girls so much!

Here are some words of appreciation. First, thank you for your great customer support and quick response. Second, I have to say that your site has the very best products of any of the sites I have been to. They are of the quality and realistic look that I want.

I just want to say thank you to the entire Scrap Girls team. As the economy gets weaker, you keep giving us more! More sales, really special freebies (like Dynamic Brushes) and more beautiful new products. I sincerely hope that the company is weathering this economic storm and will come through it with flying colors. What would we do without Scrap Girls? Thank you for helping us to continue our digital scrapping despite the economy. During the last sale, I spent the minimum $15 to get Valerie's lovely A Different Color Collection Mini worth almost $8. I figure I got my products for half price. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

I love getting my newsletter every morning. I always read it before I'm off to work and it never fails to make the start of my day brighter. Yesterday, when I read in Ro's muse, “The occasional slubs, inconsistencies and gentle shadings are inherent to the fabric. They should not be regarded as defects. They are characteristic of the fine yarns, which give this fabric its beauty and dramatic texture,” I was completely struck with how much I've come to admire her for giving us so much of herself - slubs and all. I am not the best when it comes to using the message board and have no idea if people email her directly in response to her muses. I hope someone can tell her for me that she is my George Bailey (“It's a Wonderful Life”) and my life would not be the same without her and all of you Scrap Girls. Thanks for my little ray of sunshine every day, as well as all the highs and lows of a life shared with those who love her from afar.

Thanks so much for the gift certificate. I really appreciate it. Your customer service is so great that I use only Scrap Girls for all my digital scrapbooking needs. Of course, your designers are amazing also.

I've been paper scrapping forever, but have always been intrigued by digital scrapping. I had the usual hang-ups: I like to “feel” things, don't know where to start, how to learn Photoshop Elements, etc. Then, I came across Scrap Girls and decided to give it a whirl. All I can say is WOW! This is an awesome site and I am learning so much. I've been able to create two digital layouts and, if I do so say myself, they're not half bad! I really want to thank you for the tremendous services and products you provide. I still have a lot to learn, but I know that your site is a tremendous resource, so I won't be alone! I hope to get to one of your conventions some time.

Layout by DixieLee
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Crumpled Folds are also available.

Layout by JessPrincess
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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!

Want to see past winners of the Weekly Layout Contest? Visit the Weekly Layout Winners gallery on our message board here!

FREE STARTER KIT

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!

Ready to Take Off? In-depth Tutorials Help You Become a Great Digital Scrapbooker

Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

NEW! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop CS4, CS3, CS2, and CS
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 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!

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop
MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop Elements

It's time for you to stop playing catch-up in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and start having a blast creating your own digital scrapbooking supplies! You'll also learn all sorts of tricks that professionals and advanced digital scrapbookers use in their layouts. And because Ro covers so many topics in the series, it is one of the most cost-effective methods of moving your skills to a higher level. Join in with the thousands of digital scrapbookers who have chosen to learn advanced skills from Ro. You'll be happy that you did!

Note: These are NOT beginning tutorials. If you get this training and you have never used Photoshop or Photoshop Elements before, or if you aren't pretty sure of yourself in the software, you are going to be lost. You simply have to understand layers, where things are located, and all of the basic, important skills that Ro teaches in her Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed series before you try to use it.

eBooks

Scrap Girls offers a large catalog of eBooks covering topics that will expand your digital scrapbooking abilities to new heights. Here are just a few samples:

The Virtual Canvas eBook

What happens when you move digital scrapbooking beyond the basic page? What happens when you allow the layout to blur the edges between keepsake and art? The Virtual Canvas: Celebrating The Art of Digital Scrapbooking eBook will provide those answers for you.

Digital Photography Simplified

Colour (me) Creative eBook with 36 color swatches

Scrapbooking 911 - 20 Sketches to Revialize Your Digital

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!

See more titles

Layout by Keri Schueller
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Designer Freebie by Keri Schueller coordinates with her Beaute Botanique Collection Biggie,
part of this month's Scrap Girls Club offering!

* There is a "free download" button on the details page for each gift. You don't need to put them in your shopping cart unless you are shopping for other items. Also note that if you are slow reading your newsletter, you may find this freebie has already been retired, as the freebies are only available as gifts for about two newsletter cycles.

CROPS AND CHATS

ATC Chat
Sunday, June 28th - 3:00PM ET

Please join Sherry_Lynn in the chatroom for our June ATC Swap Crop/Chat on Sunday, June 28th at 3pm ET. For this month's challenge, we are doing ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) that feature "Food!"

Scraplift Chat
Sunday, June 28th - 5:00PM ET

Join Amy (ManiakMama) and angelaNussbaum for a Scraplifting Crop. A few hours before the crop we will tell you the name of a Scrap Girls Team Member, and you will be able to choose one of their layouts to be your inspiration. During the crop we will also help explain about scraplifting, how to use a layout as inspiration, and the importance of giving credit. Scraplifting is a lot of fun! So come join us, you're sure to enjoy it!

Desktop Challenge Crop
Monday, June 29th - 8:00PM ET

Are you bored with the simple backgrounds that your PC or MAC came with? Want to learn more about using your Scrap Girls products to make exciting and colorful new desktop wallpapers? Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Becca at 8pm ET (5pm for those of you on the west coast!) for this month's Desktop Crop. A few hours before chat time, we'll give you some details on how to get started, plus a technique challenge and a theme for an extra dose of motivation!

Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, June 30th - 4:00PM ET

Please join Danna (scrappylibrarian) on June 30 at 4pm ET for the next installment of our Life Moments Chat and Crop! These crops are about building a scrapbook all about you, one layout at a time. I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, July 1st - 12:00Noon ET

Join your guest host April Showers for the High Noon Crop every Wednesday. 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 July 1st, we'll do a Nature Challenge! Create a layout that shows nature in some way. Could be flowers, wildlife, camping - anything that highlights nature. 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! We hope you'll join us!

What's New Chat
Friday, July 3rd - 11:00AM ET

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Becca at 11am ET Friday morning to chat about all the cool new things in the boutique. You never know who else is going to show up! 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!

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!

June Mid-Month Layout Contest: Did you know that June is National Candy Month? To celebrate this wonderful month, we'd like to see layouts inspired by your favorite candy bar! Just post your layouts in the Mid-June Monthly Layout Contest before July 14th at midnight EDT and you will be eligible to win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique. Be sure to include the credits for items used in the description area or under the Details tab. Good Luck!

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.)