Last month I decided I didn't have enough to do in my already busy life. According to someone I met recently, I wasn't doing anything that fed my soul. Everything I do is for family and work. So I signed up for an African Dance class. I went to the studio where people were stretching and had on kente cloth skirts. They looked like they knew what they were doing. I had on yoga pants. From that start, I was all wrong. I couldn't even figure out the proper attire. How was this going to work out? As I talked with a few students, they all assured me that the class would be fun, and the instructor takes it slow. I had taken African dance before - 15 years ago, 50 pounds ago, a more agile version of me ago. Now here I was, almost 40, thinking my body would do what I saw the students in the class doing.

Sylvia, the instructor, greeted me warmly. She started out with a warm up that I thought was the dance. I was so pooped after that. Then she began jumping and dancing around, swinging her arms and gyrating her hips.

I catch on to the first few steps. Hey, this might not be too bad. I may be pretty good at this. As I am swinging my arms and head side to side, I feel the beat; I feel the rhythm. I am dancing. The live drummers are all laughing. They are laughing so hard that one of them stops drumming! I look to see what they are laughing at... me. I am so offbeat, it is hilarious. I have no idea what I am doing. I am just moving and swinging my arms wildly. I am having fun and burning calories, so who cares if I am offbeat? I am feeding my soul.

- Renee 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 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 Brandy Murry using March's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Brandy Murry

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 Brush Set
2 Designer's Choice Item

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

Layout by Theresa Kavouras using March's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Durin Eberhart and Theresa Kavouras

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!

You Know You're a Scrap Girl When...

I just discovered digi-scrapping in July and am totally hooked. But I knew that I was "officially" a Scrap Girl tonight when I burned a large portion of the brown sugar plastic bag onto the bottom of a cookie sheet which I placed too close to the bag (okay, on top of) and then stared at the burning/burned plastic to decide if it would make a good texture. When I snapped out of it, I noticed that I didn't care that it had been my favorite cookie sheet. That's it, I'm a goner.

...when anytime you see any purple item for sale, anywhere, you immediately stop and ponder if it would make a suitable Scrap Girls accessory?

...when you suddenly develop a talent for reading misspellings and skipped words and typos... too much time in the chat room!

...when you're spending New Year's Eve on the Scrap Girls Message Board laughing at the posts in this thread because you SO understand!

...when you stay up just to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

...when you check the board every 30 minutes... just in case someone says something fascinating... and usually someone does... so you have to keep looking... just in case there is another fascinating thing....

...when you can't resist coming online to wish everyone a Happy New Year, check out the Boutique one last time, and can't resist staying a bit longer to comment on the beautiful layouts! Not to mention checking out the new posts!

...when you stay up till 1:00 in the morning just so you can get a glimpse of the new Club item... only one more hour to go.

...when you stay up late New Year's Eve to change your siggie and blinkie? (after a last trip to the Boutique.)

...when you really try to hurry through your work so you can get home in time for a chat or a class, because that's the most fun of the week!

...I have another one... Christy V. called my house yesterday, and my hubby answered. She introduced herself to him as a "Scrap Girl," and he talked to her like he's known her for years. Thankfully, Christy went along with it. My husband thinks of all of you as my sisters, and if you called my house, you'd be treated as such.

...when you call your friend's house and her husband answers and says, "You really do exist!"

...when you check the Boutique's "What's New" page every five minutes on Thursdays just to be the first one to see a new goodie!

...when you find yourself starting conversations with non-scrapper, non-photo people by saying, "You know, on my Scrap Girls site..." and finish by telling them some tidbit that you learned about how to do something while scrapping or a comment about the weather in another part of the country that you didn't see on the Weather Channel, but right here on the Message Board. My friends just smile, as does DH (dear husband).

...when you realize you LIVE for the next sale here. And luckily, I never have long to wait!

...when you have not been posting for several days due to being really sick and suddenly open your computer to find many PM's (private messages) and emails asking where you are!

...when your husband walks into the computer room, rolling his eyes and saying, "Oh no, not the purple page again!"

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by crystals622
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Edge It 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Brackets 6301, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Gathered Borders, Dynamic Brush Set: Drawing 5701 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Chipboard 1801 Mini are also available.

Layout by AnnBK
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders and Dynamic Brush Set: Spray Paint 5401 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!

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:

Scrap Girls 2009 Digital Scrap Link Class:
Creating a Painting With Styles

Learn how to create the look of a painting with your digital photographs using simply styles and some filters. You can create the depth of an oil, acrylic, or watercolor painting with various style textures and techniques. You will also learn some other fun techniques to use styles to create real looking embellishments such as a rusted frame.

Ten Basic Design Principles eBook

Learn to design digital scrapbook pages like a pro! Learn to use a grid and understand 10 basic design principles shown through examples with grids and detailed explanations. Includes a 12x12 Grid in png format to get you started.

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set
2009 - 4th 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 4th Quarter of 2009 in one convenient PDF format.

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: Making a Just Because Card Using ScrapSimple Card 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 Joann Brown
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Designer Freebie by Valerie Randall coordinates with her ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Easter Eggs

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Easter Eggs, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Printer's Ornaments, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Curvy Mats 2103, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Mega Lift I-Squared Biggie and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Icicle 6401 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

Swap Crop Chat
Saturday, March 27th - 6:00PM 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 6pm MT on Saturday, March 27th.

Desktop Challenge Chat
Sunday, March 28th - 1:00PM MT

Tired of the boring desktop wallpaper backgrounds that your PC or MAC came with? Join Becca and Shari PV Mom on Sunday, March 28th at 1pm 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!

Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, March 30th - 3:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) in the chat room on March 30th at 3pm MT for another Life Moments Chat and Crop. These chats are focused on building a scrapbook about you, one layout at a time. This week we will be working on the Teenage Years, so open your old yearbooks, dig out some photos, write down your memories, and be sure to join us in the chat room!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, March 31st - 10:00AM MT

Join your 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 March 31st, we'll do a favorite photo challenge! 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, April 2nd - 9:00AM MT

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry (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 and Chat
Friday, April 2nd - 2:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April Showers in the chat room on Friday, April 2nd 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!

NSBR Chat
Monday, April 5th - 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 April 5th at 7pm MT!

Creative Card Chat
Tuesday, April 6th - 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 Tuesday, April 6th at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

ATC Swap Crop
Tuesday, April 6th - 4:30PM MT

Please join Sherry Lynn and Elisha (elibar) in the chatroom for our April ATC (Artist Trading Card) Swap Crop/Chat on Tuesday, April 6th at 4:30pm MT. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, April 7th - 10:00AM MT

Join your host April Showers for the East Coast High Noon Crop every Wednesday at 10am MT. All coasts and time zones are welcome! 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 April 7th, we'll do a "Use Your Stash" challenge. Create a layout from those irresistible collections you purchased but haven't used yet. 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, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

MARCH EVENTS

March Message Board Game: Posting Contest!

It's that time again - Posting Contest time! This is where you are rewarded for your flying fingers and chattiness. The contest will run from March 1 when we post the thread to March 31 at 12:00 midnight (MST). We are doing things a little differently this time, so here are the rules:

1) To enter the Posting Challenge, reply in the game thread with your CURRENT post count. This is the number under your Avatar that shows when you post. Do not post the number found on your profile; it is a different number that is calculated differently.

2) During the month, chat your fingers off!

3) On March 31, BEFORE midnight (MST), go back to your original post in the game thread (the one with your starting post count) and take a screenshot of it. Send the screen shot to [email protected]. The screenshot is your contest entry! We will calculate your post count based on the numbers on the screenshot. (Directions for taking screenshots will be posted in the game thread.)

Prizes: The top poster gets a $20 Scrap Girls gift certificate. Everyone over 250 new posts will be entered in a random drawing for a $10 Scrap Girls gift certificate. Everyone over 100 new posts will be entered into a random drawing for a $5 Scrap Girls gift certificate.

Layout Contests:

March Monthly Layout Contest: Smile! The month of March includes Smile Day. Does seeing someone else's smile make you smile? For this month's contest, we want to see your layouts featuring a smile. Create your layout and post it in the March Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight MST on March 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!