Laundry and Me: A Love-Hate Relationship

I have to admit it: I hate doing laundry. I can't really explain why because I actually respect the process and don't mind doing any singular chore that needs to occur for the laundry to become clean. I also love the smell and feel of warm, clean clothing. I just don't like doing it all.

My hesitation and procrastination became so bad that after our third child was born, my husband, good and blessed man that he is, took over the task. But recently, I've been reading a book that has totally changed my perspective. This book is showing me that to be obedient to God in His plan for me, I should become a "suitable help meet" for my husband. By my thinking, at the very least, that means I need to take over the laundry. "That's okay!" I convince myself, since my husband recently got me a brand new front-loading washer and dryer pair as incentive.

Well, I had been doing very well for a few weeks, but last week was particularly busy, and I let the laundry get backed up. When my husband left for a business trip on Sunday, I decided to try to catch up on laundry. It turned out to be a particular cluster of "what can go wrong usually does."

First, I decided to wash the whites and mistakenly put the bleach in the fabric softener compartment. I didn't realize what I had done until I had put the whites into the dryer, turned it on High Heat, and pressed the lovely button to start another load in the washer. Once I came to the understanding that bleach added at the fabric softener stage really didn't get rinsed well, and that it was not good for bleachy clothing to sit around, much less be heat-dried, I stopped the dryer and waited, planning to put them in for another rinse cycle after the second load was done.

I sit down to watch a 30-minute home-and-garden show and then go check the washer's progress since I didn't hear that delightful ding. Much to my surprise, I found I had never actually started the second load. In my tired frustration and without thinking, I went ahead and started the washer when I really should have taken that stuff out and rinsed the overly-bleached whites. If I had, I might have noticed the Pull-Up stuck inside a pair of pajama bottoms, but I didn't.

Instead, I watched another home-and-garden program while the now-started-and-truly-second-load washed. After hearing the much anticipated and lovely ding, I went to put that load in the dryer. As I moved clothes from one machine to the other, I wondered what paper I might have washed since there were small bits on some of the clothes.

Only as I neared the bottom did I notice that, in addition to bits of paper, there were small bits of gel that multiplied lower down into several (and I really mean many more than several) small masses of slippery, hard-to-pick-up, falling-through-the-holes-in-my-washer-drum, globs of goo that one can only recognize if they have had the misfortune of seeing an overloaded diaper explode.

So, picture it: Here I am, well after midnight, trying to be a good wife and nearing tears as I scoop diaper gel stuff out of my beautiful washer. All the while, I'm wondering if the gel is flammable and if the small bits that are impossible to brush off kids' clothing are going to incinerate my new dryer. The only hope for my washer seems to be figuring out how to start a "Tub Wash" cycle on my washer, fully expecting to wake to a mass of congealed, previously described, non-gelatin-like junk clogging the pipes and flooding my kitchen.

Morning update: It seems the Tub Wash cycle worked to clean up the washer, and the bits that wouldn't come off the clothes destined for the dryer actually vacuum quite nicely after they've been through three air-dry cycles.

Now it's off to finish the other eight waiting loads and laugh at my predicament. Feel free to join me.

- Wendy Mosier

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 Paula Wright using May's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Brandy Murry and Paula Wright

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:

Thanks so much for this website - I love Scrap Girls! I've learned so much through the two classes plus through both of the PSE Secrets and More Secrets revealed videos. I am having so much fun! Have a wonderful day!

I am absolutely happy with the way you handle everything. You've got the best digital products and website out there. I especially enjoy your writings as they are very funny, and I can relate to them.

I love the product and have had a lot of fun playing with my new scrap stuff! Your site is very helpful and easy to get around. Purchasing the product was exceptional. Thank you, again, for great customer service.

My recent order went just fine... fantastic product... great instruction... superb examples of pages to help inspire... So far, the results of my pages are everything I could've hoped for. I have another order started - you have a definite repeat customer in me.

The Scrap Girls website is great. It is so supportive and tolerant of beginners. It has been instrumental in starting me on this all-consuming and satisfying hobby. Many thanks!

These look wonderful! Another goodie to add to my wish list. The Scrap Girls designers are the best! Your designs are gorgeous and the products are unique. Great job, ladies!

Loving the new newsletters. There's been so much added to it and I'm truly excited about all the new things.

The best way to start the day is coffee and the Newsletter from Scrap Girls! I love the new format and all the new little tips! Thanks for all your hard work everyone!

Keep up the good work. Yours is such a wonderful site and the people I've dealt with (like you) are great. I'm sure you'll get plenty of business from me in the future as you have in the past. I just can't help myself! You have such great art.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. This goes to prove digi-scrappers and Scrap Girls are right up there with the best.

I wasn't sure who to send my message to, but I just wanted to tell you how very much I enjoy the Scrap Girls Newsletter. The information and ideas are so helpful to me as I am new at scrapbooking and don't consider myself as particularly crafty. Your samples give me so much inspiration!

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by jhawkchris
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Scrollwork 1 are also available.

Layout by Bambi
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Inked Edges 1801 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Clusters 3 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:
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 Ang Campbell
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Designer Freebie by Ang Campbell coordinates with her Iridescence Collection Biggie

* 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, May 29th - 6:00PM MT

It's time for the Swap Crop Chat! We've done the swapping, and created the layouts, now it's time for the chat! 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. We'll even reveal the theme for next month! Join Carla (CRS) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) for a fun chat at 6pm MT on Saturday, May 29th!

Desktop Challenge Crop
Sunday, May 30th - 5:00PM MT

Tired of the boring desktop wallpaper backgrounds that your PC or MAC came with? Join Becca and angelaNussbaum on Sunday, May 30th 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!

Creative Card Chat
Tuesday, June 1st - 6:00PM MT

Do you use your digi-supplies to make cards? Do you want to? Instead of going to the store every time you need a card, you can save money and have fun making cards with your digital stash! Make a note of any cards you might need for the upcoming month, and join Michelle (Shelbi) and April (April Showers) for the once-a-month Card Chat on Tuesday, June 1st at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, June 1st - 7:00PM MT

Is there a man in your life that has inspired you to be a better person? Is there someone you look up to? Life Moments Chats are about making an album about YOU, one layout at a time. Join Carla (CRS) on June 1st at 7pm MT for another Life Moments Chat honoring the man in your life and your feelings about that man.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, June 2nd - 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 June 2nd, we'll do a Flower Challenge. You can use photos of flowers that are in bloom, use a floral paper, or embellish your page with lots of beautiful flowers. It is up to you! 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!

Project SG Chat
Wednesday, June 2nd - 8:00PM 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 Angela (angelaNussbaum) and April Showers on Wednesday June 2nd at 8pm MT for this month's Project SG Chat! It isn't too late to start. Hope to see you there!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, June 3rd - 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, June 4th - 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 and Chat
Friday, June 4th - 2:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April Showers in the chat room on Friday, June 4th 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!

Hybrid Craft Chat
Sunday, June 6th - 2:00PM MT

Have you ever thought about stretching your digital scrapbooking supplies a little bit further? Hybrid Crafts are a great way to use your stash and create beautiful gifts. Join Sherry (Sherry Lynn) and Carla (CRS) on Sunday, June 6th at 2pm MT, as we work on hybrid craft projects and get inspired to use our digi-scrapping supplies in new ways! Check the message board for our first project!

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!