I have four boys under the age of six. Don't ask me how it happened or if I believe in birth control or if this was all in an attempt to have a little girl. I will not answer those questions, but I will say that my life is creative.

One of the trickiest things about being a parent is getting your children to do something, while making them think it was their idea. For example, sitting down to dinner, I get a lot of "EWW!" "Yuck!" or "This makes me throw-up!" I used to say, "Oh, come on, you like cheese. There is some cheese in that" or make some attempt at getting them to taste it.

One night, when my three-year-old wrinkled his nose and asked, "What is in that?" I lost it.

I replied, "Only the finest toenails! I climbed a mountain, where a giant lives, and stole some of his toenails while he was sleeping." My kids laughed. "Then, I ground them up and sprinkled them onto some lizard's skin that I had laid out to dry this morning." I went into great detail about how I traded some of our food with a witch in exchange for some of her warts and rolled them up into the lizard skin and made our dinner.

To my great surprise, my kids loved it! While they ate, they asked me to tell them how I caught the lizards. I told them about spending nights in the desert and finding them in my sleeping bag. They laughed at the stories and asked for more.

My husband was not so fond of the stories. He looked at me as if to say, "I'm trying to eat here."

Majority rules.

I get such a sense of pride when I see my two-year-old hold up a green bean on his fork and say, "Eww... big worm!” and quickly snap it into his mouth and say, "I like it."

What is life without kids?

Crystal Wallace

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!

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 Melissa Renfro using November's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Melissa Renfro

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 Laurel Lakey using November's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Amanda McGee and Brandie Valenzuela

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!

Scrap Girls Member of the Month - November 2009
Member Name: princessrunningfingers

1. What program do you use to digital scrapbook?

I recently moved from PSE6 to CS4. While I have a lot to learn about it, I love it already.

2. Tell us the make and model of digital camera that you use.

I use a Sony DSLR-A200.

3. Name one thing that every beginning digital scrapbooker should know.

Since I found myself unable to get into digital scrapbooking until I found Scrap Girls, I would like every beginner to know that there is so much help and encouragement available at Scrap Girls and lots of wonderful, new friends to be made.

4. If you could be transformed into a digital scrapbooking embellishment, what would you choose and why?

I think I would choose to be a style. I have recently begun to discover what wonderful things that styles can do for your scrapbooking. I don't think I ever do a layout without at least one.

5. What time of day do you find that you do your best scrapbooking?

I do my best scrapbooking early in the morning while the house is quiet, and my brain is clear (relatively, that is.)

6. What is your favorite snack?

I guess my favorite snack these days is popcorn; closely behind that, anything salty. A few years ago, I would have said chocolate, but it doesn't like me as much as it used to.

7. What brand of toothpaste do you use?

Sensodyne.

8. What is your least favorite household chore?

Ironing. Enough said.

9. Finish this sentence. "I couldn't live without..."

...my husband, my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and certainly not last, my God.

10. What's your current favorite layout that you've done?

Layout by princessrunningfingers
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Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by jjtex
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Type Paths: Squares and Rectangles 2101, ScrapSimple Type Paths: Spirals 2101 and Brush Set: Breathe Swirls are also available.

Layout by debbys
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Slice it Up are also available.

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!

October's Mid-Monthly Layout Contest Winner

Layout by princessrunningfingers
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos - Doubles Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Metal Edge 6301, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Deep Shadows 6501 PSE and PS Biggie are also available.

Congratulations to Joyce (princessrunningfingers) for winning the Mid-October Layout Contest. Joyce's lovely layout did an excellent job fitting the theme of scrapping an anniversary. Joyce receives a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique for her efforts. Congratulations!

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

Want to see past winners of the Monthly Layout Contest? Visit the Monthly 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!

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:

Artistry: A Celebration of Digital Design Excellence eBook

Artistry: A Celebration of Digital Design Excellence highlights the best-of-the-best in digital scrapbooking focusing on high quality layout design, imaginative use of products, creative vision, top-notch typography, and artistic expression. There are different layouts in a wide range of styles and techniques to be found in the book, and there are a multitude of ideas to be culled from the pages.

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 - PSE: How to Emboss & Texturize with ScrapSimple 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 Sara Peterson
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Designer Freebie by Sara Peterson coordinates with her Movers and Shakers Collection Mini

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Stamped Specifics 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, November 23rd - 9:00PM Australian Eastern DST

Please come join Karen (kazbar73) & Jo (scrappingjo) at 9pm Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time on Monday 23 November for a chat and challenge. This week's challenge is a Recipe Challenge. Create a Recipe Card (4 x 6) with your favourite salad recipe and then join us in the Live Chat Lobby for lots of fun and laughter as we talk about our recipes. For our International ladies, the chat will be on at 3am MT (5am New York) time.

New Member Chat
Tuesday, November 24th - 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, November 25th - 10:00AM MT

Join your guest host April Showers for the East Coast High Noon Crop every Wednesday at 10am MT. 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 November 25th, we'll do a gratitude challenge. Create a layout using photos and journaling to document what you are thankful for. 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!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, November 26th - 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 November 26th at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

What's New Chat
Friday, November 27th - 9:00AM MT

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry Lynn at 9am Mountain Time on Friday mornings 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!

Desktop Challenge Crop
Sunday, November 29th - 5:00PM MT

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 5pm MT for this month's Desktop Challenge 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 boost of motivation!

Swap Crop Chat
Monday, November 30th - 7:00PM MT

It's time for the Swap Crop Chat! We've done the swapping, and created the layouts, now it's time to chat about all the gorgeous layouts! I don't know what it is, but these swaps bring out the best in everyone. This is the time to chat about the theme, the beautiful layouts and learn about the swap crop if you haven't participated before. I'll even reveal the theme for next month! Join Carla (CRS) for a fun chat at 7pm MT on November 30th!

Creative Card Chat
Tuesday, December 1st - 6:00PM MT

Do you use your digi-supplies to make cards? Do you want to? Instead of going to the store every time you need a card, you can save money and have fun making cards with your digi stash! Make a note of any cards you might need for the upcoming month and join Michelle (Shelbi) and April (April Showers) for the once a month Card Chat on December 1st at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

NOVEMBER EVENTS

November Message Board Game: The Alphabet Hunt

We're taking your ABC game skills to a whole new level this month... and tacking on some prizes as well! This month's message board game is "The Alphabet Hunt." Every few days, we'll give you a new theme and a searching task and then set you loose to start building our list in alphabetic order! Find the specifics about game play in the November Message Board Game thread in the Monthly Message Board Game folder on the Scrap Girls forum.

For each item you correctly add to our alphabetic list in the game thread on the message board, your name will be entered into a drawing which will be held at the end of the month. Five winners will be drawn and each will win a $5 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls boutique! Additionally, the person with the most correct contributions to the game will automatically win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap GIrls boutique! Participation is what counts big this month, so join us on the message board for the detailed rules, search specifics and LOTS of fun!

Layout Contests:

November Monthly Layout Contest: Life is busy; so full of activities and distractions. What pulls you away from what you really want to do? We want you to scrap it! For the November Layout Contest, we want to see what pulls you away from what you want to do. Create your layout and post it in the November Layout Contest Gallery before Midnight on November 30th. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the details tab. If your layout is chosen, you could win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

November Mid-Month Layout Contest: We all know one; maybe you even are one. You know her, the woman who can do it all and make it look easy... a Superwoman! For the Mid-November Layout Contest, scrap a layout all about that Superwoman in your life. Post your layouts in the Mid-November Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight, December 14th and you will be eligible to win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the details tab.

Check our message board calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in 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.)