Note from Ro: I've never made sourdough bread, but I've always wanted to. I've been worried that the results wouldn't be that great. When I found this recipe by Angela Blanchard in the Scrap Girls blog, it made me want to finally try to make some.

Angela Blanchard

Sourdough Bread

I have been trying to make a sourdough loaf that is as good as our local bakery, and I think I've finally gotten a recipe that works for me. It is adapted from a standard recipe, but I've simplified it so that it's feasible for doing every week. The scrapbook layout shows the steps of preparation.

1 cups sourdough starter
6 cups bread flour (can use 3 cups bread flour and 3 cups fresh ground flour)
3 cups water
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. yeast (if desired)

In the evening:

Pour 2 cups of room temp water into a bowl.
Stir in 1 cup of starter.
Add yeast, 3 cups of flour, and mix together.
Stir in last cup of water, add salt, and mix together.
Stir in last 3 cups of flour.
Cover with a towel and leave overnight.

Next day, mid-morning:

Turn out dough and knead in more flour until smooth and elastic.
Spray cooking oil in a bowl and put in dough.
Cover and leave for approximately 2-3 hours.

Later in the afternoon:

Turn out dough and separate into two loaves. Shape into loaves, but do not knead.
Put loaves onto greased cookie sheet or pizza pan.
Put pan of water in bottom of oven.
Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.
Just before putting loaves in oven, score tops with a knife.
Put in oven and then reduce temp to 425 degrees F.
Bake for 30 minutes (mist with water during baking, if desired).
Remove and cool on racks.

There you have it! Fresh-baked sourdough loaves your family will love! (If you do not have a sourdough starter, there are many directions on the Internet on how to make your own.)

Layout by Angela Blanchard
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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 Trish Yochum using February's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Trish Yochum

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 Armi Custodio 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!

ScrapSimple Tools – Custom Shapes

When I was a little girl, I used to play with crayons, paint, glue and "magic markers." I loved the way the colors went on the paper, and I loved that I could change the look or the textures by changing the order in which I laid down the colors or the different mediums that I was playing with. I really enjoyed cutting shapes out of the artwork that I had made, and making collages on bottles, notebook covers, picture frames, or albums. Who knew that many (many) years later, this concept would be duplicated on the computer!

ScrapSimple Tools – Custom Shapes are exactly the digital tool that we all have in our digital scrapbooking arsenal that replicates this technique exactly. Custom Shapes can be brought into your layout in every imaginable shape and size! You can add color or texture or papers to your Custom Shape through a variety of means. You can clip a paper to them. You can clip a photo to them, basically creating a photo mask out of your shape. Styles can also be added for yet additional creative options.

Another way that I like to use ScrapSimple Tools – Custom Shapes is as a means to combine collections. I can take my custom shape and clip a paper to it from one collection that perfectly complements another! I can then take my shape and add it to my layout. If I want to go hybrid, I can make whatever shape I want and then add to it any color, texture, photo, or pattern. I can then even print it, cut it out, and add it to a notebook cover, photo frame, bottle, or album! The possibilities are endless!

ScrapSimple Tools – Custom Shapes are like gigantic brushes. You can draw them onto your layout and make them as large as you like. Unlike brushes, they won't distort or lose resolution when you enlarge them. This gives you added versatility with your creativity!

Custom Shape Tool in Photoshop Elements

Custom Shape Tool menu in Photoshop

Custom Shape Tool shape selector menu in Photoshop

Once you have selected your Custom Shape for your layout, simply make a new layer in your Layers Palette. Then to draw your shape, just click your mouse and drag. As you drag, you will be "drawing" your shape. When you hold down the Shift key while you draw, the proportions remain consistent. Just let go of the Shift key if you want to distort the shape. You can drag a Custom Shape any which way you like, all while maintaining quality resolution!

For our Paint Shop Pro users, Scrap Girls provides a PNG file with all ScrapSimple Tools – Custom Shapes products. These PNG files can be opened in your program and used like any other brush, paper, or embellishment file.

So don't be shy about getting "messy." Find that little girl in you and get out those colors, those papers, those photos, and those styles! Don't be afraid to splash whatever color, paper, or texture you want onto a Custom Shape. You can "play" to your heart's content. The results will have you addicted to ScrapSimple Tools – Custom Shapes in no time!

(Check out MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements to learn how fun it is to use ScrapSimple Tools – Custom Shapes to create embellishments and accents for your layouts.)

Layout by Amy Flanagan
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Shapely 6301, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Witty 6301, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Witty 6302, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Edgings 4901, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Curvy Mats 2101, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Stucco 6401 Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Wires 6401, ScrapSimple Tools - Scripts: File Save 1 PSE 11101, ScrapSimple Tools - Scripts: Supply Tracker PSE 11101 and ScrapSimple Tools - Scripts: Rename Layer PSE 11101 are also available.

Article written by Amy Flanagan

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:

Scrapbooking 911 - 2-page Sketches
to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking eBook

Are you stuck in a creative corner? Need a jumpstart to your layouts? Want more ideas how to go from a blank page to a digital masterpiece? With a fresh collection of original sketches, all the hard design decisions (such as balance, composition, and rule of thirds) have already been made for you.

Scrapbook Quotes eBook
The right quote for your scrapbook layouts

Looking for scrapbooking quotes or quotes to use for greeting cards? Here's your solution. This packed eBook contains hundreds of quotes, collected over many years by Rozanne Paxman specifically for use on scrapbooking layouts.

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set
2009 - 3rd Quarter

Subscribers to the Scrap Girls Newsletter have one thing in common: they love to learn new techniques! Each issue shares ideas, tutorials, and new ways to use Scrap Girls quality digital scrapbooking products. Now you can have all those past tutorials and Way Cool Stuff articles of the 3rd Quarter of 2009 in one convenient PDF format.

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: The Beauty of Blending Modes: Using them with ScrapSimple Products

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 Syndee Nuckles
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Designer Freebie by Syndee Nuckles coordinates with her Isn't It Romantic Collection

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Grandeur, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Photo Edges 6301 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Butterfly Shadows 6301 Mini 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
Thursday, February 4th - 5:00PM MT

Have you heard about Project SG yet? This challenge is all about creating an album for 2010 and scrapping your most current photos. Join Becca and April Showers on Thursday, February 4th at 5pm MT for this month's Project SG Chat! Hope to see you there!

What's New Chat
Friday, February 5th - 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!

Back-Up Party & Chat
Friday, February 5th - 2:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April Showers in the chat room on Friday, February 5th for a Back-up Party and Chat. We'll go over several different ways to safeguard your files. You won't want to miss this one!

Quote Challenge Chat
Sunday, February 7th - 2:00PM MT

Come join Pat (PBarnes) for the Quote Challenge Crop at 2pm MT. Including a quote on your layout can be a touching and meaningful addition, especially if you use the quote to create your own word art. Here's how it will work. On Sunday, I'll post a thread on the Chat section of the board giving you the quote that you will use to make your own word art. It's not hard, and I will have a layout with a Word Art example in the gallery. Then we'll meet in the chat room to have fun, chat, and create our Word Art layout! Everyone can participate and create a layout, even if you can't make the chat. Hope to see you there!

Aussie Chat & Challenge
Monday, February 8th - 9:00PM Australian Eastern DST

Come join Jo (scrappingjo) and Karen (kazbar73) for our first Aussie Chat of 2010. As we are in the middle of Summer, we thought it would be a great challenge to create a layout with your favourite summer photos. Come to the chat room at 9.00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time and have fun chatting with us. For our International ladies, the chat will start at 3am MT (or 5am ET) on Monday 8 February. We look forward to chatting with you all.

Photography Focus Club Chat
Monday, February 8th - 7:00PM MT

Do you want to challenge yourself and improve your photography? Check out the Scrap Girls Photo Focus Club. No membership required - Everyone is welcome. If you are looking for tips, techniques or inspiration to help you take better images, this is the chat for you. This month, join Mary Elizabeth (NS_Scrapper) and guest hostess Sara (Three Tadpoles Mom) to talk about lighting. Sara will describe her basic lighting studio, which she describes as her "Home Depot" studio. Come and join the discussion to find out how you can create a simple lighting package and learn some tricks for using external light sources.

Baby Album Chat
Tuesday, February 9th - 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, February 9th 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 each crop for motivation if you want one. For this month's challenge, let's scrap the First Haircut!

Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, February 9th - 4:00PM MT

Please join Sherry_Lynn on Tuesday, February 9th at 4pm MT for the next installment of our Life Moments Chat and Crop! These crops are about building a scrapbook all about you, one layout at a time.

FEBRUARY EVENTS

February Message Board Game: BINGO!

It's that time again! Join us for an exciting game of BINGO on the Message Board Forum in February! Pick 25 words from the list provided in the forum and send them in an email to [email protected] with a subject line that says "BINGO CARD - your SG message board username" by Saturday, January 30th (Midnight MST) in order to play in the first round, which will begin on Monday, February 1st.

Each day, members of the Welcoming Committee will call five random words from the Bingo list. Match just 15 of those words to win a BINGO. You must be first to call bingo in the forum to win that round. After a winner is called, the boards can be cleared and a new round will begin the following day. All winners win a $5 gift certificate to the boutique! We like to see lots of winners, so please remember that each person can only win one round during the month. Have fun!

If you miss the first round cutoff date, you can still play! Just send in your Bingo card at any time during the month and you'll be eligible to begin playing when the next new round starts. Everyone who sends in a Bingo card will receive a confirmation email that their card has been received. If you do not receive confirmation within 24 hours, please re-send your list of words.

Layout Contests:

February Monthly Layout Contest: During the month of February, many people turn to thoughts of love. What greater love is there than the love for family. For this month's contest, we want to see layouts about your family – either the one you grew up with or the one you have started. Create your layout and post it in the February Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight MST on February 28th. 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!