Note from Heidi: I love this advice from Doris Castle! I love having birds visit my backyard, and one of their favorite places to perch while waiting their turn at the feeder was a large, gracefully swooping branch that hung just above our fence line. It had several smaller branches hanging off it and just enough leaves to provide cover for the birds, but not too many so I couldn't see them. Just yesterday, I went outside and to my complete horror, my neighbor had completely cut off this beautiful branch from the tree! It brought tears to my eyes - yes, over a tree branch! But I was immediately grateful for all the photos I have with that branch in the background. I may never again be able to see my tiny flocks resting there in my backyard, but in my photos, that branch will always be there!

Doris Castle

Scrapping a Room

So many times when I look at older photos, I find myself trying to peek around the subject and see the rooms and living spaces of the subject. While it's great to look at pictures of loved ones, it's also so much fun to reminisce about an old apartment, house, or even a room and remember the quirks and favorite things about our past surroundings. I love looking at photos of when my girls were babies, and I can see the piles of diapers, baby bottles, blankies, and totally remember what it was like to live in that stage of life.

I have realized that our surroundings are important because they show what is going on and give hints about what is going on in our lives. For example, I went into my daughter's bedroom and took some snapshots of her desk area, her bookshelf, and her favorite spots in the room. Now I have a great visual record of her room at this point in her life. It will probably be totally different in a year or two as she gets older and her interests change.

So go ahead... take some pictures of the rooms around you! Don't worry about cleaning up the rooms first. Let it be an honest look at your surroundings. It will be so much fun to go back in time and see an old room as you had left it.

- Doris

Layout by Doris Castle
larger view

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Wild Passion Biggie, Brush Set: Paint Strokes 11001 Biggie and Brush Set: Leaky Stamp Super Biggie are also available.

Scrap Girls, Etc. is a weekly column pulling bits and pieces from all over Scrap Girls. Stay tuned each week as Scrap Girls' Jane-of-All-Trades Heidi Dillon brings you tutorials, musings, recipes, interviews, design/software tips and tricks, layout walk-throughs, and who knows what else!

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 Armi Custodio using June's Scrap Girls Club
larger view

Created for you by Syndee Nuckles

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 Melissa Renfro using June's ScrapSimple Club
larger view

Created for you by Melissa Renfro and Valerie Randall

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 Layer Your Own Brushes

When I first started scrapbooking, I remember being completely intimidated by brushes. I loved the look, but I just couldn't figure out how to use them. Within a short time, I learned how to use brushes, and now they're one of my favorite scrapping tools. I especially love Scrap Girls' Layer Your Own Brushes because they give you an amazing amount of creative possibilities.

The Layer Your Own Brushes are used just like normal brushes. The difference is that they offer a variety of elements that can be used on their own or in combination with other elements. In my layout below, I've layered the brushes by using several different but coordinated elements, all within the same brush set.

First, I stamped the photo frame, choosing the color I desired. I could have chosen any color, but I wanted a subdued effect, so I chose white. Next, I used the same brush set to stamp the months of the year in black. I circled the current month in black as well. Last, I stamped the days of the month and the year, also in black. All of these components are part of the same brush set, and they all coordinate with each other. I love date stamps, and this is one of my favorites!

Layout by Kara Swanson
larger view

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: 4x6 - Date Frame are also available.

Article written by Kara Swanson

A brush? Isn't that something you use on your daughter's tangled curls or to update the color of the guest bedroom? Not anymore! Learn how to add interest to your digital scrapbook layouts as Ro teaches you the tips and tricks for using digital brushes in MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

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: Combining ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates

Learn how you can combine ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates to create your own unique layout template written by Angie Briggs. You will get step by step instructions, with screen shots to follow and several sample layouts giving you even more ideas. You'll also receive ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 Album Series 7, so that you may easily follow along with the instructions.

Scrapbooking 911 - 20 Sketches to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking eBook

Are your creative juices drained? Need help finding ideas? Want a great starting place? Scrapbooking 911 - 20 Sketches to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking is the answer to all of these questions. With twenty original sketches to work from, you'll be creating exciting, dynamic, and creative layouts 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

Step by Step Movie Tutorial: How to Create An Old Wall Mural

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 Amanda Sok
larger view

Designer Freebie by Amanda Sok coordinates with her Vanilla Plum Pudding Collection Mini

* 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

Ad Inspiration Chat
Thursday, June 24th - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes) at 7pm MT for an Ad Inspiration Challenge and Chat. A few hours before the chat, a magazine ad will be posted on the message board to use as inspiration for a layout. You can use whatever you want to from the ad - the colors, the shapes, the composition. There are no wrong answers!

Speed Scrap Crop
Thursday, June 24th - 8:00PM MT

Ever wonder what you can get done when time is tight? Here is your chance to find out! Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Carla (CRS) for a Speed Scrap Crop! We'll give you six items, spread out over an hour, for you to include on your layout. It's a challenge that is also a lot of fun! We'll see you in the chat room on Thursday, June 24th at 8pm MT!

Scraplift Challenge Chat
Friday, June 25th - 8:00AM MT

Scrap-lifting can be a wonderful starting point for your layouts! Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and guest co-hostess Laurel (laurellakey) on Friday, June 25 at 8am MT to learn more about scrap-lifting, the importance of giving credit, and more! This month, we'll be scrap-lifting Laurel's layout gallery, and you can choose one of her layouts for inspiration! Hope you'll join us!

What's New Chat
Friday, June 25th - 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, June 26th - 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. We'll even reveal the theme for next month! Join us, Carla (CRS) and Angela (angelaNussbaum), for a fun chat at 6pm MT on Saturday, June 26th.

U.F.O. Chat
Sunday, June 27th - 3:00PM MT

Please join Sherry Lynn and special guest co-hostess TBA from our Layout Artist Team, in the chatroom. Let's complete or revamp some of those layouts that are sitting in your "Layouts to be Completed" folder. Post your layout in the UFO Gallery and meet us in the Lobby on Sunday, June 27th at 3pm MT to get some inspirational suggestions from our incredible professionals here at Scrap Girls!

ScrapSimple - Use It! Chat
Sunday, June 27th - 6:00PM MT

Strengthening your abilities in scrapbooking is essential to becoming a better scrapbooker and learning to utilize the ScrapSimple product line available here at Scrap Girls will give you so many more unique and fun options with your layouts! Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) for this monthly chat on Sunday, June 27th at 6pm MT as we talk about how to use these versatile products!

Emphasis on Embellishments Chat
Monday, June 28th - 7:00PM MT

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Janine (J9Buckles) on Monday at 7pm MT for the Emphasis on Embellishments Chat. This chat is geared towards challenging you to use more embellishments on your layout. Each month, you will be given a specific number challenge to inspire you to start using more elements on your layouts or to create your own cluster of embellishments!

Desktop Challenge Crop
Tuesday, June 29th - 5:00PM MT

Tired of the boring desktop wallpaper backgrounds that your PC or MAC came with? Join Becca and Angela (angelaNussbaum) on Tuesday, June 29th 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 month's theme, let's scrap our pets or any animals! And for the added challenge, try an out-of-bounds technique on your desktop layout!

Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, June 29th - 6:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) in the chat room on June 29th at 6pm MT for another Life Moments Chat and Crop. These chats are focused on building a scrapbook all about you, one layout at a time. This week we will be working on Graduations. High School, College, Kindergarten, Middle School - it is up to you! Dig through your files, write down your memories, and be sure to join us in the chat room!

JUNE EVENTS

June Message Board Game: Quotable Quotes

The object of the game is to correctly guess the layout (created by either a product designer or layout artist) that contains a quote or journaling. Each day, you will be given a word found in the clue. We will keep giving words to the clues until a correct guess is made.

Be the first to answer it correctly and win a $5.00 Gift Certificate to the Boutique! You are only allowed ONE guess per daily clue, and you are only allowed ONE win per month. When you make your guess, you must link it to the correct layout in the Boutique. We will play the game daily during the entire month of June. When a correct answer is given, the new puzzle will start the following day.

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

Layout Contests:

June Monthly Layout Contest: June is National Candy Month and who doesn't like candy!? For this month's layout contest, use the wrapper of your favorite candy for inspiration. Does your favorite candy have a great color combination, cool fonts or a fun striped pattern? Use whatever inspires you about it to create your layout. You don't have to include the candy's wrapper in your layout but you might mention it in your description. Create your layout and post it in the June Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight MT on June 30th. 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!