I relied too much on my EHD, trusting that it would keep all of the precious memories of my family, my completed scrapbook pages, as well as all of my digital scrapping supplies safe. I knew I needed to get in the habit of backing up my EHD, in the event that the hard drive would fail. However, I kept pushing that task off. Week after week, the task of looking into Mozy or backing up to CD's carried over in my task list as something I hoped to get to that week.

Sadly, my hard drive is no longer recognized by my computer. I am in the process of investigating if any files can be recovered from it. My youngest daughter's life is on that hard drive and a big chunk of my oldest daughter's, too. And all of my ScrapGirls supplies and completed scrapbook pages. All of those precious files might be gone - forever. I am sick with worry. I couldn't sleep last night and probably won't again until I know for sure if anything can be recovered.

I encourage and remind you to get in the habit of backing up your files. I won't make this same mistake twice and only hope that my mistake won't cost me more than it already has.

- Heather M.

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 has an opening for an editor. This is a contract position.

Duties: Editing newsletter content and blog entries in a timely manner.

Qualifications:

Proven ability to successfully and accurately edit
Ability to work quickly and manage time well
Ability to take direction
Relevant educational and/or work experience
Understanding of the digital scrapbooking industry and associated software
U.S. citizen or citizen of a tax treaty country (A list can be found here.)
U.S. citizens must have a bank for direct deposit
Non-U.S. citizens must be able to receive PayPal funds as payment for contract work

To apply, please email the following to [email protected].

A note about yourself
A resume in the body of the email. (No attachments)
Subject line of the email must read: Contract Editor Application
Three references

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 Amanda Sok using January's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Amanda Sok

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 Thao Cosgrove using December's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Thao Cosgrove and Caroline Kaiser

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!

Digital Photography Simplified

At the heart of many of our layouts are the images captured through our camera lenses. In the 6-week Digital Photography Simplified course, participants challenge themselves to take better images through improved knowledge of their cameras, combined with analysis of the results. The digital Photography Simplified eBook by our own Diane Miller (dinny) served as the basic resource. The text was supported through weekly emails with additional resources and photo challenges that encouraged application of the theory. Class members created a portfolio of their work to serve as a reference and/or a showcase for selected images. The class encouraged an interactive process – take pictures, analyze results, share the image and the analysis, provide constructive critique to peers, apply learning and take more pictures. Through this combination of practice and review, participants developed their skills and demonstrated their progress.

It is always difficult to select a few images from the gallery when there are so many wonderful samples. These ones from regular posters illustrate the range of styles and materials that were used to create a variety of portfolios.

Kim created a cover that combined a number of images from her practice shoots with photography terms that were covered in the class. I like the balance of her layout as well as the variety of images that she was able to include in the display. They make me want to look inside to learn more. I also love the title, which perfectly describes what many of us want most to create with our digital photos.

Layout by podiumchick
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Freehand Coloring 8201 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Victorian Garden Biggie 7601 and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Interactive Text are also available.

In this lovely image, Kim demonstrated beautiful placement and use of angle and line with her main shot. She emphasized effective use of cropping in her close-up image. In her quote and the description on her posting, she also shared the importance of taking time to shoot lots of pictures as part of the learning process.

Layout by KBT
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Journaling Highlighters Biggie are also available.

Ramya used her sweet daughter as a model in this exercise on the challenge of cropping in the camera. She showed the larger picture for context and then zoomed closer to her subject. The use of the tabbed album brings to mind more traditional journal notes taken at a photo shoot. I especially like the thoughtful journaling to describe the challenges and learning.

Layout by RKSP
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Spiral Bound, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Deep Shadows 6501 PSE and PS Biggie are also available.

If you want to improve your photography skills, take the challenge to take more photos. As inspiration, take one of the Scrap Girl photography classes – or join us for our new photo club Photo Focus, starting this month. Check the calendar to learn more. Happy shooting – and watch for the Online Class: Digital Photography Simplified coming again soon.

Article written by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by caprimom
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Stitching And Holes 4102 - Zig Zag Stitching Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Stitching And Holes 4103, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Mega Lift III-Linear Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and Lettering Delights Artsy Font are also available.

Layout by camerabug
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Chairs Mini 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!

Member of the Month: January 2010

Congratulations Marylou (MLLatscrapgirls)! The Scrap Girls Team has chosen Marylou as the Member of the Month for January!

Marylou has been a fun, helpful member since 2006. She is a Boutique Babe, active in the Thursday threads. Marylou is a joy to have in classes and chats. She shares her scrapping knowledge and has helped to make Scrap Girls a fun, friendly and helpful place.

Marylou receives a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique and has the honor of wearing the Member of the Month blinkie!

When you have a few minutes, Marylou, please tell us a little about yourself and share a link to your favorite layout! Thank you for making Scrap Girls a wonderful, friendly place! Congratulations!!

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
NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro X (XI)

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

Now that you've learned the basics of digital scrapbooking with Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, you are ready to learn advanced skills for having even more fun while you create digital scrapbooking layouts!

Get a big boost learning how to use ScrapSimple products to make your own backgrounds, embellishments, and alphas with the MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements movie tutorial series. You'll learn so much that your digital scrapbooking layouts will never be the same!

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:

Inspirations eBook

With three richly illustrated sections, Inspirations eBook not only offers a virtual gallery of stunning works by EIGHTEEN contemporary digital artists in a variety of styles, but it also describes the techniques they used and gives several key points on how you can recreate each of these TWENTY-EIGHT layouts yourself.

Ten Beginner Tips on Type eBook

If you're creating a digital scrapbooking layout, it's almost guaranteed that you'll be using type on your pages somewhere. But did you know that type can make or break your page? What typeface will you use? What size font? Where will you place it on your page? If you want to take some beginner steps towards improving the type on your layouts, and thereby improving the overall look of your layouts, then this eBook is perfect for you.

digital Photography Simplified eBook

This eBook is full of easy to understand information and photographic examples, and is tailored to the beginning digital photographer who wants to take better photos. More advanced photographers will also benefit from this eBook with the sections that get you out of your comfort zone.

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 Kim Meeder
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Designer Freebie by Kim Meeder coordinates with her Rustique Collection Biggie

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Postage Due Cluster Frames, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Corrugated 2, Brush Set: YOUnique Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Blended 8201 Super Biggie and Lettering Delights Underwood Pica 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

Project SG Chat
Sunday, January 3rd - 5:00PM MT

It's a new year, and we have a new twist on the SG52 Challenge! Join ChristyVW and Becca on Sunday, January 3rd at 5pm MT for an introduction to Project SG! We'll talk about the different ways you can participate in this digital scrapbooking challenge to make it work for you! See you there!

NSBR Chat
Monday, January 4th - 7:00PM 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 Carla (CRS) on January 4th at 7pm MT!

ATC Swap Crop
Tuesday, January 5th - 5:00PM MT

Please Sherry_Lynn in the chatroom for our January ATC (Artist Trading Card) Swap Crop/Chat on Tuesday, January 5th at 5pm MT. I'm looking forward to seeing you there.

Creative Card Chat
Tuesday, January 5th - 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 digital stash! Make a note of any cards you might need for the upcoming month and join Michelle (Shelbi) and April Showers for the monthly Card Chat on Tuesday, January 5th at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, January 6th - 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 January 6th, we'll do a photo challenge! Create a layout using your favorite recent photo(s)! 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!

What's New Chat
Friday, January 8th - 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!

Back-Up Party and Chat
Friday, January 8th - 2:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April Showers in the chat room on Friday, January 8th for a Back-up Party and Chat. We'll also go over several different ways to safeguard your files. You won't want to miss this one!

Recipe Swap Crop
Saturday, January 9th - 8:00PM MT

Please join April Showers at 8pm MT in the chat room for our Monthly Recipe Swap Chat. Please check the message board on Thursday, January 7th for this month's theme and the swap details!

JANUARY EVENTS

January Message Board Game: Jumpstart January!

Join us on the message board this month for "Jumpstart January!" This is a message board game and challenge to start your year with fun and focus 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.

A member of the Welcoming Committee will post a mini-challenge/task every day from January 1-30 in the games folder on the message board. Check out the game thread titled "January Jumpstart 2010" for complete details and rules.

Those who complete all tasks and submit or post required participation by 11:59PM MT on January 31st 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 separate drawing to win one of three $5 gift certificates. (Those who complete all tasks will have their name entered in both drawings!) Winners will be announced in the newsletter on Saturday, February 6th.

Layout Contests:

January Monthly Layout Contest: Did you have dreams as a child as to what your life would be like? Did you dream as a young adult how you wanted your future to pan out? Do you, as a mature adult, have dreams unfulfilled? The beginning of a new year is a great time to think about the future. This month's layout contest, create a layout about your hopes and dreams. It might center on family, a job or a recreational pursuit, show and tell us what your dreams are and how you are making them come true. Create your layout and post it in the January Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight on January 31st. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. If your layout is one of the two chosen, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Club Concepts Layout Contest: 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 or the ScrapSimple Club Members' Gallery. Be sure to list all of the Scrap Girls products you used. If your layout is chosen, they will be showcased as a Club Concepts layout winner, and you will win a $5 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.)

Haven't received your prize as a contest winner? Please send an email to [email protected] and we'll get it out to you right away!