Standing with a new purse in my hands, I carefully examined the seams.

"I can do that." I muttered to myself and placed it back on the rack with a smile.

About $5.00 later I was home, making room in my fabric cabinet for the "new guy." With a final shove at the pile, I headed to the computer and opened my Favorites list — upholstering a chaise, concrete counters, gardening, making your own compost — what did I want to tackle today? Shoving my collection of broken glass aside (for the recycled glass countertop, obviously), I scooted in for a better view of the screen. Bryan had been on the computer recently, because I could still see his tabs on Mustang parts and tips on body work.

"He always has some sort of project going on," I thought, "When is he going to learn?"

With a sigh, I decided that I'm not in the mood to be online anyway. Getting up, I headed over to the sewing machine, instructing one of the kids to take that last roll of old carpet out to the curb. Mental note: Repair cracks in the concrete before selecting the stain for the floors. Taking a seat at the sewing machine, I read my next step and busied myself with Aspen's capris... after all, I still had 13 pairs of pants to make in the next six weeks or the kids would be wearing nothing but a polo shirt and a smile to class!

So where is this headed? You guessed it. I am a hopeless do-it-yourselfer. I have been blessed with creative talent, but for some reason that has translated into an obsession with doing and making as many of the things I want or need myself. In some instances, it's great, and yes, it saves money, but at what cost?

To make matters worse, my husband has been bitten by the same bug. Thus, our home is filled with endless projects, materials needed to complete projects, and the stress of knowing the projects are piling up.

I really do have a 40-gallon trash bin dedicated to the collection of bottles and bits of mirror that I am cleaning, breaking, and saving for a countertop.


My husband really is restoring our '65 Mustang himself. Because of outrageous quotes, he has even taken on body work, primer, and yes (gulp!), painting for the first time.


I am about halfway through making pants for the kids' school clothes, which amounts to about 40 altogether.


I am planning to finish curtains, re-upholster my Victorian-style chaise, and possibly make the shade for my bridge lamp.

Will it all get done? Ummm, maybe, but then again, I might need to have someone throw me a life preserver before I drown in projects.

Come to think of it... I could probably make one myself...

- Jennifer H.

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 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 Template
1 ScrapSimple Embellishment or Word Art Template Set
2 Designer's Choice Items

A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple Club is also available here.

Layout by Janine Buckles using January's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Keri Schueller and Ariadna Wiczling

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!

Here are just of the few nice things people have said about us recently...

I just wanted to say thank you for a wonderful year here at your site. I'm still getting to know everyone but I want to send a special thanks to Angie for all her help when I was stuck. You are the greatest! What great fun I have had. Hope you all have a blessed new year.

I guess it will remain a mystery why I never rolled over to a "Wise One," as it proved too mysterious for Dee to figure out. However, she manually changed me and added the owl blinkie herself.

Have I said "out loud" recently that I love this purple place?! Where else could you get such dedication and service (not to mention kick-booty product!)?

Thanks again, Dee :)

(Note from Scrap Girls staff: Dee is our messageboard wizard!)

First, let me say, "Congratulations Sara," for having your muse published in the newsletter. Second, I so enjoyed reading it and found that a lot of what you said also applies to me in some fashion. I really felt the care and love you put into your words and it made me feel wonderful to know that we here at Scrap Girls have members such as you. Your thoughts and introspection bring so much to the table that it makes me proud to call you my friend. Scrap Girls is an important part of my daily life, and like you, despite the ups and downs we all go through day to day, Scrap Girls gives us a place to rest-easy our minds and be among friends.

(Note from Scrap Girls staff: Sara is a wonderful member who had her muse published in one of the Saturday newsletters.)

This is wonderful news... I have taken some classes with webconferencing, and it really is great... this will be a super addition to the classes here at Scrap Girls which I love taking.

Thanks, Scrap Girls... for always keeping abreast of what's the newest and using it here at Scrap Girls.

Thanks so much for being real and honest with your challenges. I thought I had changed so much already. I am 44 (I think, I usually have to figure it out because I don't think about age anymore). But having lost a child at a very young age started my journey with growing up quickly. The newsletter this morning brought me to tears. That must mean what you were saying hit a spot in me that still needs some more work. Thanks again for being honest and not feeling like you have to come across as the big business woman who has to be perfect. In doing that, you help release us from the "perfection syndrome" that we women tend to let ourselves get into.

I know I've said this before, but Ro, you just have a way of putting things into the right words. Many times when I read your words, I know that you are saying what I feel or think, but you manage to get them into words that mean something to all of us. I love reading your muses.

Thanks so much for your wisdom and honesty. I too have just stopped putting mascara on my bottom lashes. What rebels we are! LOL!

Ro, I almost cried as I read this sweet letter. I laugh a lot at my humorous life, but inside I cry a lot, too! Things definitely have not gone as I had hoped in my life, yet I have so many blessings... and things really are not as bad as they have been, as you noted. In five years, they could be so much better!

(SIGH) Someday I will know what God intends to do with my creative juices, since all the doors have closed to make money at what I love to do!

I think it is really helpful for the rest of us when role models share their vulnerabilities. I remember feeling so anxious because my mother worked so hard to appear perfect, and she wanted us to be too. Years later, when I heard some stories from her cousin showing that she was human after all, I felt so relieved.

And now I have caught myself doing the same thing. I was stunned when a wonderful NCO I worked with told me she was so relieved to find out I wasn't perfect after all.

So I applaud you, Ro, for being brave enough to share your challenges. It gives the rest of us hope and the feeling we're not alone.

It is so refreshing to see Ro share such moments with us. It's great to know that things happen to others and those challenges can be overcome. I've used the five-year rule myself ever since hearing it. Helps so much. Just one year can make a difference. Last year I was facing quite a bit, and this year I'm back to living my quiet little fairytale.

Great muse, Ro! I really appreciate your honesty and above all the caring attitude that you emit as CEO of this great company. As for mascara on the bottom lashes, not only did I quit that, I changed my whole type of mascara to a lengthening rather than thickening one, and I am sooooo glad. Not so sticky and globby!

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by Kacie
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Snow Globe, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Emboss 5401, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Holiday In Lights, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Jelly 2101, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Wires 6401, Brush Set: Grungelle, Brush Set: Beautiful Distress, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and ScrapSimple Tools - Scripts: Supply Tracker 11101 are also available.

Layout by ange
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Threaded, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photos That Pop PSE 1801, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders, Brush Set: Textile 1501 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 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!

December's Mid-Monthly Layout Contest Winner

Layout by Jenna
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Misty, Brush Set: Beautiful Distress, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Butterflies 2101 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Congratulations to Jenna for winning the Mid-December Layout Gallery contest. Her stunning layout fits the theme of scrapping something that is/was hard for you to do. Jenna will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique for her efforts. Congratulations!

Congratulations to this month's winner. Please email [email protected] to get your gift!

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

January's Scrap Girls Club Concepts Layout Winners

Layout by katiemo
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These first two products are included in this month's Scrap Girls Club offering. Members receive a substantial discount on these club supplies. They are also available elsewhere in the Boutique at regular prices for those individuals who would rather not join a club.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Clusters 3 are also available.

Layout by Michelleds
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These first three products are included in this month's Scrap Girls Club offering. Members receive a substantial discount on these club supplies. They are also available elsewhere in the Boutique at regular prices for those individuals who would rather not join a club.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates - Photo Masks: Tattered Text are also available.

Congratulations to this club's winners. We loved your layouts so much that we had to share them with everybody! Please email [email protected] to claim your prize - a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls boutique!

Want to see past winners of the Scrap Girls Club contest? Visit the Scrap Girls Club's 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
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

Card by Brandy Murry
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Designer Freebie by Brandy Murry coordinates with her Country Blue Collection

* 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

Scraplifting Chat
Sunday, January 24th - 5:00PM MT

Scraplifting can be a wonderful starting point for your layouts! Join Becca on Sunday, January 24th at 5pm MT to learn more about scraplifting, the importance of giving credit, and more! A few hours before the chat, I will post the name and gallery link to a Scrap Girls Team member, and you can choose one of their layouts for inspiration! Hope you'll join us!

Coffee Break Chat
Tuesday, January 26th - 5:00AM MT

If reading the Scrap Girls Newsletter and having a cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea first thing in the morning is a part of your daily routine, join Sherry Lynn on Tuesday, January 26th at 5am MT for this month's Coffee Break Chat. We'll chat over the latest issue of the Newsletter and give you a challenge based on it! Hope to see you there!

Life Moments Crop
Tuesday, January 26th - 12Noon MT

Time for another Life Moments Crop! Life Moments is a crop dedicated to pages about yourself. We often neglect our own stories while preserving the stories of our loved ones. We're creating an album about ourselves, one layout at a time. The theme for this month is... our hair! Have you had a lot of different hairstyle over the years? Or one you absolutely love or hate? Let's scrap those memories! Hope you can join me, Carla (CRS), in the chat room on January 26th at 12 Noon MT!

New Member Chat
Tuesday, January 26th - 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, January 27th - 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 27th, we'll do an embellishment challenge! Create a layout using lots of embellishments - flowers, tags, frames, whatever you'd like! Make use of those fancy, fun embellishments! 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!

Desktop Challenge Chat
Wednesday, January 27th - 5:00PM MT

Tired of the boring desktop wallpaper backgrounds that your PC or MAC came with? Join Becca and Shari PV Mom on Wednesday, January 27th at 5pm MT for this month's Desktop Challenge Crop. We'll show you how to use your digital scrapbooking supplies to create a personalized desktop wallpaper of your own. For this challenge, we'll give you a theme and a technique challenge to choose from! Keep your eyes on the message board for more details!

NSBR - Early Edition
Thursday, January 28th - 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 Michelle (Shelbi) and Shari (Shari PV Mom) at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

What's New Chat
Friday, January 29th - 9:00AM MT

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry_Lynn at 9am MT 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!

Swap Crop Chat
Saturday, January 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 me, Carla (CRS), for a fun chat at 7pm MT on Saturday, January 30th.

NSBR Chat
Monday, February 1st - 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 me, Carla (CRS), on February 1st at 7pm MT!

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 "Jumpstart January 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, it 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!