My 14-year-old daughter's leg was hanging off her bed when I went in this morning to wake her up. I gently rubbed her leg and noticed how soft it was. Asking her questions gets her brain thinking, and she usually wakes up faster than if I just say it's time to get up. So I asked her why her leg was so soft compared to my scratchy, dry one. She moaned and drew her leg back under the covers.

As I stepped into the shower, I flashed back to a day when I was in my 30s, and my mother mentioned how old her hands were getting and how soft mine were by comparison.

They say we become our parents, and here's another example: It's not just in our appearance but how we age and relate to our children. My mother's hands were more wrinkled and boney, and mine are definitely aging, while my daughter's hands are so smooth.

I can still see my mother's hands; the image is embedded in my brain, one hand slightly overlapping the other as they lay just below her bust. They were so soft and delicate, still skinny (my dad had her wedding rings sized down several months earlier), and so smooth and peaceful. My sister took a picture of my mother's hands. My dad doesn't think I think of my mother very often. I do....

I yell into my daughter's room that it's her turn to shower. The beginning of another day.

- Marsha Goff

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 Valerie Randall using May's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Valerie Randall

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 Angie Briggs using April's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Jan Hicks and Shalae Tippetts

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 some of the nice things our friends are saying about Scrap Girls:

Just wanted to let you know I love dealing with your company because I did indeed have a hard drive crash in January, and although I had all my pictures backed up (to three different places!), I did not have my digital scrapbooking purchases backed up. Thank you for letting me reacquire my library of fun stuff!

...pictures of my older children that have to be scanned alongside pictures of their children doing similar things

There are no words to describe how great I think your site is. I have been 100% fully satisfied with anything and everything I have ever purchased. I always look forward to the sales! I hardly ever post my work or join chats or post on the Message Board, but I visit them all the time. I always have the best of intentions to join a chat (like the one last night on desktops), but I look up and it's too late. I need to set a timer by my computer. My favorite place is the Gallery. I am in awe sometimes of the pages posted by fellow scrappers. There is so much talent out there!

I have always been very pleased with Scrap Girls in all aspects. I have emailed, and I have always received a timely and informative response. I have bought several things and have always been pleased with everything I have ever bought.

I absolutely love your products. The kits are very well put together. The way your products are presented is very visually appealing, too.

I want to say thanks for the tutorials in Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed. It is showing me everything I want to know at this time. All I wanted to learn to do was to enhance pics of my kids and grandson with words, maybe change colors, get rid of red eye (my son and grandson have it), and whatever else I can find to do. I didn't know if I really wanted to spend $30 on the product, because I usually don't spend money - I look for free stuff. But I couldn't find anything free that does even close to what the tutorials do! I could fix my own pics right along with Ro as she talked me through the process. I put the tutorials on a CD, in case my computer ever crashes.

I really love the quality of your products. I also really love the Gallery and the amazing and inspiring ideas your site is full of.

The Scrap Girls product style is unique to Scrap Girls. I have noticed that, over time, the product trend has moved toward a large number of versatile products that help scrapbookers create unique papers and elements, while continuing to offer your usual high-quality kits and elements. Your website is also very strong on helping scrapbookers develop their digital scrapbooking skills.

I wanted to let you know how wonderful your site has been for me. As a die-hard paper scrapper, with an entire room to prove it, moving meant that I had to give up my dedicated scrapping area. With a young baby, I couldn't just leave it out on the table like I used to. So my husband suggested digital scrapbooking. I had a couple magazines about it, but just didn't feel like I could take the plunge. Then I found your site in one of the magazines, and I am all into it now! I've been going for about four months, and there is no turning back. I love being able to go to a crop and only take my laptop (and the external hard drive - can't do anything without that!). I want to thank you for the freebies, because that let me really get my feet wet before I took the plunge and decided that I love, love, love this stuff! I love my daily newsletters - the Muses really brighten my day. Thank you so much for everything you do.

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by tinkerbell11
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders II Biggie and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos Biggie are also available.

Layout by PolkaDot
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Highlights 8301 Biggie, Dynamic Brush Set: Paintstroke 5401, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001, Lettering Delights Aloha Font and Lettering Delights Quill Font 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!

April's Monthly Layout Contest Winners

Layout by Ai Yen
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Layout Masks, 1 Scrap Girls Brush Set: Travel and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Stitch 1801 are also available.

Layout by hipgranny
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Congratulations to Ai Yen and hipgranny for winning April's Layout Contest. Their layouts each fit the theme of scrapping "Silly Faces." Ai Yen and hipgranny each receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique for their efforts. Congratulations!

Congratulations to this month's winners. 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!

April's ScrapSimple Club Concepts Layout Winner

Layout by Westina
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These first three products are included in this month's ScrapSimple 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 Paper Templates: Artist Papers 2, Brush Set: It's Me, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Scruffy Flowers and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Precious 2 are also available.

Congratulations, Westina!! We loved your layout so much we had to share it with everybody! Westina receives a $5 Gift Certificate for her layout using April's ScrapSimple Club! Congratulations!

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

Want to see past winners of the ScrapSimple Club contest? Visit the ScrapSimple Club's Winners gallery on our message board here!

Mischief Week Contest Winners

Wonderland Scavenger Hunt Game Winners:

1-29 correct ($5 Gift Certificate): ritzbits
30-49 correct ($10 Gift Certificate): scraphappen
All 50 correct ($20 Gift Certificate): BarbaraC1977

Tea Cup Game Winners:

Embellishment Set: princessrunningfingers
Word Art/Alpha Set: Creative Sparkle
Paper Set: tiza126
Brush Set: daisies803
ScrapSimple Custom Shapes Set: rbthl

Message Board Mini-Game Winners:

How Many Words (Paper Set): bikeneday
Word Scramble (Brush Set): kayoft
Alice-Opoly Game (AYO Embellishment Set): B&K Mom
Mixed Up Quotes (AYO Embellishment Set): tinkerbell11
Word Find Grid (Paper Mini): mjaguiar
Alice's ABC Game (Paper Set): av8orbrat
Alice in Wonderland Word Find (AYO Zoom Page): Cheri T
Find-A-Word (Embellishment Set): PhotoshopScrapper
Alice in Wonderland Trivia Challenge (Embellishment Set): ritzbits
Battleship (Brush Set): Sara Arell
Alice in Wonderland BINGO (ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template set): Sarah in VA

Contest Winner for Twitter and Facebook Followers:

Congratulations to Denise (PhotoshopScrapper) for winning the random drawing by becoming a Facebook fan or Twitter follower of Scrap Girls! For her prize, Denise receives a collection of her choice!

Valerie's "Friend Me" Contest Winners:

Congratulations to the following members for winning Valerie's "Friend Me" Contest during Mischief Week. Each winner receives Valerie's Wonderland Collection!

teecee
SilverSwanMama
Rachel
PhotoshopScrapper
B&K Mom
Actnfunny
siskitkat

Whack-A-Wonderland Layout Contest Winner:

Congratulations to hollibird for winning the Whack-A-Wonderland layout contest, using Digital Stickers: Alice and Queen of Heart Specials! She receives a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Layout by hollibird
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Here are just a few of the random layout contest winners. Each of these winners participated in a chat challenge during Mischief Week!

"Invitation to the Party" Layout by Arizona Girl
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Arizona Girl won her choice of a Paper set for this layout during
Mischief Week's "Invitation to the Party" chat and challenge! Congratulations!

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Mudstained 2 Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Photo Frames 6302 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Fabric 5401 are also available.

"Mess or Masterpiece" Layout by princessrunningfingers
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Joyce (princessrunningfingers) won her choice of a Collection for this layout during
Mischief Week's "Mess or Masterpiece" chat and challenge! Congratulations!

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

"Reflections Mini Class" Layout by camerabug
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Amber (camerabug) won her choice of a Collection Mini for this layout during
Mischief Week's "Reflections" mini class and challenge! Congratulations!

"Curiouser and Curiouser" Layout by kayoft
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Kay (kayoft) won her choice of a ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album template set for this layout during
Mischief Week's "Curiouser and Curiouser" chat and challenge! Congratulations!

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

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:
Using Silhouettes in Scrapbooking

Learn to make and use silhouettes with Using Silhouettes in Scrapbooking written by Brandy Murry. Learn the history of Silhouettes, different ways to use them in scrapbooking as well as how to make a digital traditional style Silhouette using Photoshop programs.

Perfect Memories for Photoshop eBook

In her debut eBook Perfect Memories: Creative Solutions for Less-Than-Perfect Images, Katherine Weaver introduces her latest design-based secrets for overcoming the most common photo flaws, as well as additional ideas for getting your digital scrapbooking projects off and running in no time.

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: 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 Kerry Veale
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Designer Freebie by Kerry Veale coordinates with her Sunny Hours Victorian Book Embellishment Biggie

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Victorian Garden Biggie 7601, Brush Set: Victorian Garden Word Art Biggie, Brush Set: 4x6 Florid Ink, Brush Set: Grungelle and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Subtle Photos 7601 Biggie 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

Recipe Swap Chat
Saturday, May 8th - 8:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) at 8pm MT in the chat room for our Monthly Recipe Swap Chat. Please check the message board on Thursday, May 6th for this month's theme and the swap details!

Aussie Challenge and Chat
Monday, May 10th - 9:00PM Australian Eastern Standard Time

Please come join Karen (kazbar73) and Jo (scrappingjo) at 9pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Monday 10 May for a chat all about Mothers. Create a layout all about Mothers and then join us in the Live Chat Lobby for lots of fun and laughter as we talk about how we celebrate Mother's Day. For our International ladies, the chat will be on at 5am MT or 7am New York time.

Photography Focus Club Chat
Monday, May 10th - 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. Note that this is not a class but an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and try something new. If you are looking for tips, techniques or inspiration to help you take better images, this is the chat for you. Join Mary Elizabeth O'Toole (NS_Scrapper) and special guests for a monthly conversation about photography on Monday at 7pm MT.

New Member Chat
Tuesday, May 11th - 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.

Baby Album Chat
Tuesday, May 11th - 8:00PM 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, May 11th at 8pm 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 about Mom and baby!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, May 12th - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) on Wednesday at 10am MT for the East Coast High Noon Crop. 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 May 12th, your challenge is to use products from at least 5 different collections on your page! Upload your layouts to the special High Noon Crop Gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

Scraplift Challenge Chat
Wednesday, May 12th - 6:00PM MT

Scraplifting can be a wonderful starting point for your layouts! Join Becca and guest co-hostess Shalae (satippetts) on Wednesday, May 12 at 6pm MT to learn more about scraplifting, the importance of giving credit, and more! This month, we'll be scraplifting Shalae's layout gallery, and you can choose one of her layouts for inspiration! Hope you'll join us!

Sketch Challenge Crop
Thursday, May 13th - 7:00PM MT

Join Marnie (sprinklz) for the Sketch Challenge and Crop on Thursday, May 13th at 7pm MT in the Scrap Girls Chat Room! Like getting a little jump start on your layouts? Then this challenge is for you! A few hours before the challenge begins, Marnie will post a sketch for you to use as the starting point for your page. You can be inspired by the basic arrangement, the amount of photos, or copy it literally. All interpretations are welcome and encouraged!

What's New Chat
Friday, May 14th - 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!

Coffee Break Chat
Tuesday, May 18th - 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, May 18th at 5am MT for this month's Coffee Break Chat. We'll chat over the latest issue of the Newsletter AND create a challenge based on it! Hope to see you there!

MAY EVENTS

May Message Board Game: Geocaching - Scrap Girls Style!

There's no need for maps and compasses for this month's Geocaching trek! The object of the game is to correctly guess an item within a product in the Scrap Girls Boutique by solving clues and discovering the stars.

Each day, you will be given two clues: The first clue will be to the product (you will know you have found the correct product because there will be a star on the page.) The second clue will be to find a particular item within the product!

Send an email with the EXACT item name (within the product) and the link where the product is found to [email protected]. Use the subject line: Geocaching Scrap Girls Style in your email entry, and be sure to include your message board name and real name. Entries must be received by Midnight MT on May 31st.

Everyone who correctly identifies all 29 items will be entered into a random drawing for one $15 Gift Certificate!

Everyone who correctly identifies 19+ items will be entered into a random drawing for one of two $10 Gift Certificates!

Everyone who correctly identifies 9+ items will be entered into a random drawing for one of two $5 Gift Certificates!

For complete details and examples of game play, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls message board.

Layout Contests:

May Monthly Layout Contest: Summer is right around the corner for some of us and winter for others. What is your favorite part of that season? For this month's layout contest, scrap your favorite parts of the upcoming season. Maybe you enjoy swimming in the pool, boating or hiking the trails. Or, maybe it's building a snowman, skiing or sledding. Whatever you love, scrap it for us to see! Create your layout and post it in the May Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight MT on May 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!