Note from Heidi: My Nelly is ten months old now and is starting to eat us out of house and home! Luckily, she seems to love to eat anything and everything we give her, including tofu! I think a Tofu Scramble breakfast á la Sara Peterson may be in my future....

Sara Peterson

Tofu Scramble

I love breakfast. It is my absolute favorite meal of the day. Finding new breakfast dishes that are healthy and flavorful is a challenge. Fortunately, I love to try new things. The other day we found this great Tofu Scramble recipe. This recipe has so much flavor. We have started preparing it at least once a week. A big advantage is that it is a very healthy dish.

Tofu Scramble

1 small potato, diced to 1/2 inch
1 package firm tofu, drained and mashed
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 Tbsp soy bacon bits
1 egg

In a pan over medium heat, add the oil and the diced potato; cook until just softened. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the crumbled tofu, lemon juice, salt, and turmeric. Add the onion and garlic to the pan. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes or until just softened. Add the tofu mixture to the pan and cook about 15 minutes or until the pieces of tofu begin to brown. Stir in the parsley, bacon bits, and egg, and cook till set.

Layout by Sara Peterson
larger view

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos Biggie -Weathered and AMC_Chalk Talk Font 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 Angie Briggs using July's Scrap Girls Club
larger view

Created for you by Angie Briggs

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 Tools - Patterns

ScrapSimple Tools: Patterns can add depth and texture to your digital scrapbooking supplies. The PDF instructions that come with the patterns in the Boutique are incredibly helpful and easy to follow. They show several different ways to use the product. In this example, I am using them with various papers. Each set of patterns comes with a variety of designs that work well together. Below, I have applied different patterns to a plain blue color fill layer. For each sample, I placed the Color Fill Layer over the Pattern Fill Layer and adjusted the Blending Mode to "Color."

This pattern from ScrapSimple Tools - Patterns: Graffiti 1801 gives the solid blue fill a grungy, distressed look.

In these samples, I've used two patterns from ScrapSimple Tools – Patterns: Fabric 5401. The top pattern looks like burlap, while the lower one gives the look of velour. The patterns are enlarged to show detail more clearly.

You can also add patterns to ready-made papers. Here I used a fill layer of ScrapSimple Tools - Patterns: Fabric 5401 with a floral paper from the Feeling Free Collection. It gives the paper a ribbed look.

ScrapSimple Tools - Patterns are an easy and versatile way to dress up your scrapbook pages. In the layout below, I used a Blending Mode to combine two of the blue papers shown above. If you haven't tried out ScrapSimple Patterns yet, give them a try. They can give your scrapbook pages a whole new look!

Do terms like blending mode, opacity, and marching ants throw you for a loop? Help is just a click away in the Scrap Girls Boutique. Grab the video tutorials available in Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed and MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed and expand your digital scrapbooking knowledge!

Layout by April Martell
larger view

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Patterns: Fabric 5401, ScrapSimple Tools - Patterns: Graffiti 1801, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Mixed Media Edges 2, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Edgy, THIN, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Dirty Press Calm 5401 Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos Biggie and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Article written by April Martell

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: Tips and Tricks to Make Quick Albums Fast!

Have you ever received an email offer for a really great deal on a 20-page album? But then you sit at your computer and get overwhelmed. This eBook will cover some great tips and tricks to help you pull it off in a snap! Included with your purchase, you will receive a special digital layout template set of three layouts in both 8.5x11 and 12x12 size, with which you can practice the techniques taught in the eBook.

Artistry eBook by Marnie Adams

Artistry: A Celebration of Digital Design Excellence highlights the best-of-the-best in digital scrapbooking focusing on high quality layout design, imaginative use of products, creative vision, top-notch typography, and artistic expression.

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: Patterns, Blends & Filters, Oh My!

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 Becca Hauck
larger view

Designer Freebie by Caroline Kaiser coordinates with her Marquise Collection Biggie

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Marquise Jewels, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Photos 6301, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Downtown, Brush Set: Penned and Lettering Delights Becca Font 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, July 8th - 6:00PM 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, July 8th at 6pm MT for this month's Project SG Chat! It isn't too late to start. We'll fill you in on all the details at the chat. Hope to see you there!

What's New Chat
Friday, July 9th - 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!

Recipe Swap Chat
Saturday, July 10th - 6:00PM MT

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

Hybrid Craft Chat
Sunday, July 11th - 2:00PM MT

Do you miss working with paper, scissors and glue to create beautiful craft projects? Hybrid crafts combine your digital supplies with traditional scrapping methods to create amazing crafts! Join Sherry (Sherry Lynn) and Carla (CRS) on July 11th at 2pm MT for the Hybrid Crafts Chat where we'll discuss the current project and share ideas. Watch the message board for our next project!

Quote Challenge Chat
Sunday, July 11th - 6:00PM MT

Come join Pat (PBarnes) for the Quote Challenge Crop at 6pm 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, Pat will 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 she 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!

Life Moments Crop
Tuesday, July 13th - 1:00PM MT

Have you noticed that one person is missing from your scrapbooks: You? Life Moments Crops are designed to challenge us to scrap about ourselves. For this crop, let's scrap a layout about what makes you happy right now, today! So join Carla (CRS) in the chatroom on Tuesday, July 13th at 1pm MT! Hope to see you there!

Baby Album Chat
Tuesday, July 13th - 2:00PM 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) in the chat room on Tuesday, July 13th at 2pm MT to work on those albums and chat about our children and grandchildren!

Faith Journey Chat
Tuesday, July 13th - 5:00PM MT

Join Elisha (elibar) and Sherry Lynn for a Faith Journey Chat on Tuesday, July 13 at 5pm MT. All faiths are welcome! We'll be chatting and scrapping about our individual faith walk and how we also walk together. Watch the message board for this month's topic of discussion, and if you like - create a layout based on the topic!

New Member Chat
Tuesday, July 13th - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes) 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.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, July 14th - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) each 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 July 14th, we'll do a Stripes Challenge! Create a layout using stripes. Create your own or used striped paper. It doesn't matter as long as your layout has some stripes. Create your layout and upload it 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!

JULY EVENTS

July Message Board Game: BINGO!

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

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

Layout Contests:

July Monthly Layout Contest: Most all countries have a national holiday. The time of the year varies across our wide world but the United States just happens to celebrate Independence Day in July. For this month's layout contest, we want you to create a layout showing us something about what you do to celebrate your nation or show your patriotism. Post your layouts in the July Gallery before Midnight MT on July 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!