We have all done it, not that it is ever effective. Every mother runs through the list of "do's and don'ts" before taking the kids into the store for the ever-thrilling family shopping trip. It doesn't matter if you are going to the market or the mall, the same warnings apply.

I remember one such montage on the way into Wal-Mart with my brood. My husband was deployed and I was homeschooling for the first time. It didn't matter what time of day I went, I had to take all of them with me. Out of the corner of my eye I could see people stifling laughs and smiling. Ladies, especially, - some with children, some without - had the "been there, done that" look on their faces.

I walked briskly toward the entrance, lugging a car seat with my two-month-old in one hand and the hand of my 18-month-old in the other. Like ducklings in a row, my six and four-year-old followed.

It went something like this:

"There will be no yelling, no pushing, no fighting and no arguing. You will not hit each other, wander off, hide in the clothing racks or add things to the basket. You will not beg, plead or barter for goodies. You will stay with me, you will not whine, you will move quickly. There will be no complaining about what we are or aren't getting and, finally, you will remember to use an inside voice."

At this point, I would take a deep breath and pause at the doors.

"Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, ma'm!" they'd exclaim in unison.

We would head into the store, where the moment we set foot inside all memory of the rules was forgotten. So, next time you catch yourself chanting the mommy montage, knowing full well that none of it will be heeded, don't feel bad. Keep in mind that this too shall pass. One day, it will be you wearing that knowing grin as another mom utters those oh-so-familiar words!

- Jennifer Hamilton

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.

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!

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:

Saturday, October 10:

8:00AM MT - Back at the Ranch BINGO
Join Danna (scrappylibrarian) in the Chat Room for some Rodeo Fast Bingo! We will be playing right then and there so have your cards ready! Words will be posted on the message board Friday evening to give you a bit of prep time. Hope you can join the fun!


4:00PM MT - Escapades of Sherry & Carla: A Wagon Train West Journey
Meet us in the chat room on Saturday at 4pm MT for the Escapades of Sherry (Sherry_Lynn) & Carla (CRS)! Join us for our Wagon Train West Journey - this will be a chat and gallery game! Don't forget to bring your compass, map AND don't forget the grub!


6:00PM MT - Rustle Up Some Grub
It's time for a Back At The Ranch-style Recipe Swap! Join Sherry_Lynn and Danna (scrappylibrarian) in the chat room on Saturday at 6pm MT for our "Rustle Up Some Grub" Chat.


7:00PM MT - Stampede the Chatroom!
It's a Stampede! And it's headed straight for the Chat Room! Just how many can we fit in the chat room at once? Join Sherry (Sherry_Lynn) and Carla (CRS) at 7pm MT on Saturday and find out!

*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 Armi Custodio 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!

I love the newsletter. It gives me great ideas and inspiration. I've used a number of the techniques and short tutorials and look forward to receiving the newsletter every day!

Digital scrapping is somewhat new and very overwhelming to me, but I really want to learn to do it correctly! I think it looks like so much fun and everything looks really cool. I have been experimenting with another site, but Scrap Girls looks like it may be more informative for me, making it a lot easier.

This site is just so fabulous and keeps me going with new ideas.

Everyone here is so inspirational - you have given me so many great ideas about how and what I can scrap. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much for your email. Your staff is awesome. Every single email has been responded to quickly and professionally. I will admit that I have been "collecting" products, but have still not even tried to do a page! I will soon though, I promise! I will need help and I feel great knowing that you are there to lend a hand! Thanks again.

This is just a note to say "thank you" for taking the time to write each day. Your articles are truly faith builders and your spiritual sensitivity is always astounding. I am grateful to have Scrap Girls as a creative and spiritual resource in my life!

I just want to send out a big hug to you! I know you have had a lot of extra follow-up with all of this craziness with the server. You have done a great job. I just want to make sure you know how much we all appreciate you. Thank you for all of your hard work behind the scenes!

I am a huge fan of Scrap Girls, the newsletter and products! I am going through all of the newsletters I missed. I love your new feature where you go through an old layout and make it new and tell how you did it. Then again, I love all of the tutorials in the newsletters. I have saved every one.

I just got my new Photoshop Elements More Secrets Revealed today. I had put off buying it, but the newsletter this morning pushed me over the edge and I just had to have it. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying it. I had to go to work and leave it most of the day and I was not happy about that. Finally, I am home and able to play but, once again, I have to run an errand. Even though someone is waiting for me, I managed to sneak in a couple of the movies and I just have to share how excited I am. I've been using PSE for about 10 months now and I've gotten pretty good at the basics, but this is indeed a step beyond and definitely worth the money I spent. I think I already have my money's worth and I've only seen four movies. Some of the things I knew how to do, but was going at it the hard way to accomplish what you are showing me to do in seconds.

I want you to know that Scrap Girls is the best site on the web; at least it is to me. I am always amazed at what your design team comes up with and it is always different from what you see in any other online store. I have been using Scrap Girls products for almost two years and I have never had any trouble with anything. I use them as often as I can. I am now just playing/learning to design my own stuff. Your commercial tools and tutorials have been a great way to learn and get control of Adobe Photoshop.

I constantly marvel at the care you take of all of us. I also wonder when you must get up and begin working. Be that as it may, thank you for solving my "problem" once again. I don't have much time to work with all of the wonderful things I am acquiring, but I love what I can do when I have time. Thank you, once again, for your part in all of this - design and administration.

I think your website is great. I'm new at digital scrapbooking and keep downloading templates and other things. I'm almost at a point where I can relax a little and actually get to work with my pictures! I have subscribed to several newsletters and I sometimes get tired of them being in my inbox once a week, but not yours! I look forward to it every day.

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by DelilahsMommy
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Glitter Edge 6302 Biggie are also available.

Layout by mmimmi
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Commercial license versions of Lettering Delights Mother's Typewriter Font are also available.

Want to see your layouts make an appearance in the Scrap Girls newsletter?

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!

September's Monthly Layout Contest Winner

Layout by ritzbits
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Decorative Swirls Grunged, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and Brush Set: Snapshot Frames are also available.

Congratulations to Lori (ritzbits) for winning the September Layout Contest. Lori's beautiful and meaningful layout did a great job fitting the theme of repetition. Lori receives a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique for her efforts. Congratulations!

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

September Signature Contest - Season of Change

The message board is graced with so many festive signatures thanks to everyone that participated in the contest. Winners were chosen at random. The winner of a $10 GC is Rosemary (RosemaryS) and the winner of a $5 GC is Melanie (mbc72). Congratulations and email [email protected] to receive your gift certificates!

Congratulations to our contest winners! Please email [email protected] to get your prize, if you haven't already received it. Thanks for participating!

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 Durin Eberhart
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Designer Freebie by Durin Eberhart coordinates with her
ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Rubber Stamps, part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Rubber Stamps, Dynamic Brush Set: Rubber Stamps and Lettering Delights Eyeliner Font 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

Scraplift Chat
Sunday, October 11th - 3:00PM MT

Join Sherry_Lynn for a Scraplift 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!

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.)