Note from Ro: I found this cute post by Brandy Hackman on the Scrap Girls blog. It made me grin as it brought back memories of answering the telephone to hear the sounds of little girls asking to talk to my 10-year-old son, James. They thought he was quite the ladies man. The problem? He wasn't interested. He would rather play basketball, pretend to be a Ninja, or ride his bike.

Thanks for the laugh, Brandy! I'm so glad you have this layout. You won't want to forget this moment.

Brandy Hackman

This afternoon, when I was picking my boys up from their sixth day of school, my little first grader jumps in the car and proudly announces, "Mom, guess what? I have a girlfriend!" He rambled all the way home about how excited he was to have a girlfriend for the first time and that he has never had one before. When I asked what her name is, he replied, "I don't know, but she has a pink shirt."

Apparently, she chose him to be her boyfriend because her other boyfriend moved away and she thought Kobee had the coolest drawing. He drew a pizza.

My husband and I have been waiting for this day to come. We knew years ago that he was going to be our little ladies man. Girls will be drawn to him. Meanwhile, our third grader just rolls his eyes and thinks it is all nonsense.

Isn't it so fun to see the different personality traits in our children emerge? There is no doubt in my mind that they were born with these personalities and, as parents, we can only help encourage them in one direction or another. These strong traits are not changing anytime soon.

- Brandy

Layout by Brandy Hackman
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Street Grunge - Frames are also available.

As you are reading this, Scrap Girls from all over the world are converging on Salt Lake City to participate in the second Digital Scrap Link Convention. We will be spending the rest of the week meeting, talking, learning, laughing, and more. We are so excited to share this experience with those who are able to come, but we have not forgotten those of you who are not able to make it to this convention.

So, Scrap Girls is pleased to bring back its "Back at the Ranch" event of fun, crops, chats, challenges, classes, games, and more! Like we would forget you.... We want to make sure you have a great time holding down the fort while we're in Salt Lake.

And, stay tuned... we will have roving blog reporters out and about during the convention keeping you up-to-date with interviews, layout posts, and more!

Here's the schedule of events:

Thursday, October 8:

11:00AM MT - Art Inspired Challenge Chat
Join Kelly (KellyChron) and Keri (KeriS) in the chat room on Thursday at 11am MT for an Art Inspired Chat and Challenge. A few hours before the chat, we'll post a link on the message board with a piece of art work to serve as inspiration for a layout.


1:00PM MT - Holdin' Down the Fort Chat
As Convention kicks off in Salt Lake City, we'll be "Holdin' Down the Fort" chatroom-style! Join Ang (AngRoCamp) in the chat room on Thursday at 1pm MT and we'll keep each other company here in the forum while we kick off the "Back at the Ranch" fun together.


6:00PM MT - ATC Chat
One fun thing going on at the Convention is an ATC swap! Join Sherry (Sherry_Lynn) and Carla (CRS) for our own ATC Swap Chat in the chat room on Thursday at 6pm MT! We'll explain all the details. Everyone is welcome to join in the swap, even those attending the convention!


7:00PM MT - Sketch Challenge Crop
Join Thao (HisThao), Sarah (SarahBat) and Armi (mom_of_twins) for the Sketch Challenge and Crop on Thursday at 7pm MT in the Scrap Girls Chat Room! Like getting a little jump start on your layouts? Then this challenge is for you! A few hours before the challenge begins, we'll post a sketch for you to use as the starting point for your page. You can be inspired by the basic arrangement, the amount of photos, or copy it literally. All interpretations are welcome and encouraged! Looking forward to seeing you there!


8:00PM MT - Quote Challenge Crop
Come join Karen (kazbar73) for an Outback Aussie-style Quote Challenge. Watch the boards on Thursday for the quote, then join us in the chat room at 8pm MT. I can't wait to see to see what you all come up with.

Friday, October 9:

9:00AM MT - What's New Chat (Sherry Lynn & Erica)
1:00PM MT - Rip Roarin' Good Time Chat (Elisha)
6:00PM MT - Pot Luck Chat (Carla & Sherry Lynn)

Saturday, October 10:

8:00AM MT - Back at the Ranch BINGO (Danna)
4:00PM MT - Escapades of Sherry & Carla: A Wagon Train West Journey
6:00PM MT - Rustle Up Some Grub (Sherry Lynn & Danna)
7:00PM MT - Stampede the Chatroom! (Carla & Sherry Lynn)

*Schedule is subject to change... keep an eye on the newsletter and message board for the latest "Back at the Ranch" happenings!

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 Thao Cosgrove using October's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Thao Cosgrove

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 Durin Eberhart using September's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Brandy Murry and Durin Eberhart

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!

ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes

If you've never tried custom shapes before, then you have certainly been missing out on a great, versatile product! One reason I love using ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes is because they are vector images; you can make them as big as you want without sacrificing quality!

For instance, if you open a flower embellishment from a collection and drag it onto your layout, you would only be able to increase the size a small amount before the quality of the image starts to suffer. But, with custom shapes, you can increase the size exponentially because the shapes work differently than regular embellishments. Let me show you what that means on a layout.

I begin with a layout that has my photo and embellishments ready to go. I want to add journaling to the background, but I want to make sure it has a shape and presence to it. I decide to use a custom shape so that I can make the shape very large and cover a lot of area on the layout.

I create a new layer, select the Custom Shapes Tool (keyboard shortcut U) and select a shape from Syndee Nuckles' ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Shapely 6301.

Once the shape is sized and placed where I want it, I use a clipping mask to cover it with a paper from the collection to coordinate with my layout.

I add my journaling and my layout is complete!

If I had tried to re-size a flower embellishment to be that big on the layout, it would have gotten very pixelated. Instead, by using a custom shape, I am able to create a much larger embellishment piece and add just the right touch to my layout.

Layout by Laurel Lakey
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Shapely 6301 and ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Edgings 4901 are also available.

Tutorial written by Laurel Lakey

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!

NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop CS4, CS3, CS2, and CS
NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 6.0 and 7.0*
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro X (XI)

(*Have Photoshop Elements 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, or 5.0? We have a tutorial program that will work for you. Please visit the product details page for more information.)

Find out what tens of thousands of people have already learned: Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed is the fastest way to learn how to create digital scrapbooking layouts. And because this series covers so many topics with one purchase, it is a bargain!

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!

Download and CD versions available.

Photoshop and Photoshop Elements users receive:

30-31 movie tutorials
Companion eBook(s)
Collections
Other supplies

Paint Shop Pro users receive 31 movie tutorials.

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.

Colour (me) Creative eBook with 36 color swatches

Learn about the color wheel, color terms and their meaning, how to load the colour palettes in Adobe or use the colour strips with a colour selection tool. You get both valuable lessons and inspiration in this book filled with 48 layouts showcasing the use of the colour palettes along with links of all the products used to create the digital scrapbooking pages.

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set
2009 - 2nd Quarter

Now you can have all the past Scrap Girls Newsletter tutorials and Way Cool Stuff articles of the 2nd Quarter of 2009 in one convenient PDF format. It's easy to find those helpful hints with just the click of your mouse. You get two eBooks for the price of one!

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: How to use ScrapSimple Tools: Custom Shapes & Patterns

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 Carrie Stephens
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Designer Freebie by Carrie Stephens coordinates with her Color Symphony Collection Biggie

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Naturally Handmade Pieces 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.

CROPS AND CHATS

Aussie Chat & Challenge
Monday, October 12th - 9:00PM Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time

Please come join Karen (kazbar73) & Jo (scrappingjo) at 9PM (Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time) on Monday 12 October for a chat and challenge. This week's challenge is to create a new layout all about Spring. Join us in the Live Chat Lobby for lots of fun and laughter as we talk about Spring and what it means to you. For our International ladies, the chat will be on at 4am MT (6am New York time.)

Baby Album Chat
Tuesday, October 13th - 11:00AM MT

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, October 13th at 11am MT 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 for motivation if you want one. For this month's challenge, let's take a look at what was happening in the world the day your baby was born!

New Member Chat
Tuesday, October 13th - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes) and Carol Ann (Zaz) for the New Member Chat at 7pm MT in the Live Chat room lobby. This is a great place to ask questions about getting around the Scrap Girls site or about digital scrapbooking in general - and a great place to make some new friends. All are welcome, new and long time members included. You do need to have Java installed on your computer to access the Live Chat.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, October 14th - 10:00AM MT

Join your guest host April (April Showers) for the East Coast High Noon Crop every Wednesday at 10am Mountain Time. 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 October 14th, we'll do a favorite photo challenge! Create a layout showcasing a recently taken favorite photo! You'd be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! We hope you'll join us!

Journaling Chat
Wednesday, October 14th - 5:00PM MT

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Becca for a Journaling Chat at 5pm MT. Struggle to find the right words for your layouts? Are your layouts more decorative than descriptive of the moments you're trying to capture? Then you won't want to miss this chat - we'll have a special challenge to encourage you to journal on your pages more! See you there!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, October 15th - 2:00PM MT

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 Shari (Shari PV Mom) and Michelle (Shelbi) on October 15th at 2pm MT, in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

Heritage Crop
Thursday, October 15th - 6:00PM MT

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.

OCTOBER EVENTS

October Message Board Game: Posting Challenge

It's time to put those fingers to the test and get chatty. This month, everyone who posts at least 250 times will have their name entered in a drawing for one of five $5 Gift Certificates to be used in the Scrap Girls Boutique. In addition, the one member who posts the very most in October will receive a $10 Gift Certificate! To be included in this month's game, you must post to the October Posting Challenge thread in the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the message board and include your starting post count as of Thursday, October 1st. Once you have reached 250 posts during the month of October, email Ang at [email protected] and include your forum user name, starting post count and your new post count total. Contest ends on Saturday, October 31st at Midnight MST!

Layout Contests:

October Monthly Layout Contest: You might be a city girl or maybe a country girl, but even those that live in the city can enjoy time spent in the country. For the October Layout Gallery Contest, we want you to scrap a page about time spent in the country. It could be a visit to a farm, or a state or national park, or maybe you live in the country. Create your layout and post it in the October Monthly Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight on October 31st. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the details tab. If your layout is chosen, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

September Mid-Month Layout Contest: Everybody has some one or something in their life that has made a difference for them. For the September Mid-month Gallery contest, we want you to scrap a page about someone or something that has been a positive influence in your life. It could be a parent, a spouse, a teacher, an organization, or maybe a school or church. Create your layout and post it in the September Mid-Month Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight on October 15th. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the details tab. If your layout is chosen, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Check our message board calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in Mountain Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-Utah-Salt Lake City' as the location for the Mountain time zone.)