Family Planning (from a Child's Perspective)

One afternoon as I waited for Aspen to emerge from her kindergarten class, Mrs. Chatelain smiled a sympathetic smile. Immediately I thought of the fiery wreck scenario Aspen had told her of just a week earlier. Wondering what prompted the look of vague sadness and sympathy, I waited. Sure enough, as Aspen exited the classroom, Mrs. Chatelain followed her over to me.

"I am so sorry for your loss, if there's anything I can do... it must have been so difficult to explain."

"My loss?"

Lowering her voice so Aspen wouldn't hear her, she continued, "The miscarriage... I think Aspen is taking it hard and I want to help in any way I can."

"Oh no, miscarriage? I haven't lost a baby. What did she tell you?"

"Well, we have been focusing on our families this week and all of her pictures have six people in them. I know there are only five of you so when I asked her who the sixth person was, she told me it was her baby sissy in heaven."

"Ah, well, I know what this is about then," I explained. "She knows we'd like to eventually have another baby. She is convinced that it will be a girl. We have told her that we might not have another baby, and if we do, there's a good chance it could be another boy. She just smiles and tells me that no, it will be a girl because she asked Jesus, and He told her so. She has been drawing a sixth person ever since."

To that, Mrs. Chatelain offered a sheepish grin, cast an amused glance toward Aspen, and bid us good-bye. I couldn't help but wonder, as I walked away with my exuberant little imp, what story she might cook up next!

- Jennifer Hamilton

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 Erica Hite using September's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Erica Hite

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 Shalae Tippetts using August's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Thao Cosgrove and Brandie Valenzuela

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!

Once a month, we give you a round-up here of recent classes that have been held at Scrap Girls. And what a great month August was! Anna Mansfield was sharing more of her digital scrapbooking knowledge with eager students, plus Katherine Weaver taught a topic that is so useful - photo restoration.

Classes at Scrap Girls have a limited enrollment, and because of this, they fill up fast. If you see a class listed in the Boutique that interests you, be sure to sign up right away so you can reserve your spot.

Here are some details on how those classes went, as well as a layout by one of the students in each class:

Online Class: Restorations in Photoshop Elements
Instructor: Katherine Weaver

You may or may not know that Photoshop Elements has tools that work extremely well for restoring damaged, discolored, and faded photos. In the Restorations in Photoshop Elements class, Katherine Weaver taught an in-depth class where students learned all about photo restoration.

Students had the opportunity to learn how to straighten crooked photos, get rid of yellowing on photos, and how to repair problem areas with Filters and Healing Brushes. Probably the most helpful lessons were on how to add sepia to black-and-white images, as well as also how to strengthen contrast and tonal density with adjustment layers and blending modes. This information was taught so well that even the very beginning digital scrapbooker could master these skills.

Katherine was available to her students regularly, giving them feedback on finished photos and answering questions via email and on the private class-only Message Board forum. She provided her students with a handy, customizable worksheet which helps digital scrapbookers create and organize their restoration workflow.

In this digital scrapbooking layout below, Josephine (jhbren) edited her photos in several ways, such as straightening, cropping, removing the color, and adjusting shadows and contrast. She also added a Despeckle Noise Filter, followed by use of the Healing Brush to correct imperfections.

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Layout by jhbren
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Opalescent Glass 6401 Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Metals 8501 Biggie, Styles Pack: Vellum, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Emboss 5401, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Shadow Layer 6501 PSE and Fleur Collection Mini are also available.

Online Class: Mastering Brushes in PSE
Instructor: Anna Mansfield

Ask most digital scrappers and they will say that digital brushes are their favorite scrapbook tool. But many would like to take their brush skills to the next level, so Anna Mansfield answered that call. She taught students how easily brushes can turn ordinary layouts into the extraordinary.

What made this class even more unique was that students received the eBook, Mastering Brushes for Photoshop Elements by Shalae Tippetts as part of their class materials. From this eBook, plus Anna's instruction, students learned about the creative power of brushes, including how to use them as erasers, plus how to implement styles, effects, embossing, and masking. If students found themselves needing further instructions, Anna was sure to provide assistance in the private chatroom and class Message Board forum.

Here is a layout by Lei (Bride). She loves this quote by Jane Austen, so she wanted to use brushes that highlighted the text. Lei played with Brush Set: Decorative Swirls Grunged and then applied the Blending Mode "Pinlight" to the swirly brush.

Layout by Bride
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Edgy, THIN, Brush Set: Decorative Swirls Grunged, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photos That Pop PSE 1801, Brush Set: Fall Flourish and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

September and October are shaping up to be great months, so be sure to keep watch on the newsletter and in our Online Class section of the Boutique for future learning opportunities!

Article written by Brandie Valenzuela, Scrap Girls University Principal

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by katiemo
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Postage Due Cluster Frames and Lettering Delights Whimsey Font are also available.

Layout by millpos
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Masks - 4x6 Fanciful 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!

August's Monthly Layout Contest Winners

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Layouts by DoDee
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Commercial license versions of Shark Lagoon Collection, PS I Love You Collection Biggie and Well Loved Collection Biggie are also available.

Layout by skichic
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Commercial license versions of Scenic Route Collection Biggie, Intaglio Collection Biggie, Industrial Strength Collection Biggie, ScrapSimple Alpha Templates: Photo Collage, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Flowers Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Spackling and Merciful Collection are also available.

Congratulations to the winners of August's Monthly Layout Contest, DoDee and Diane (skichic). Their layouts each fit the theme of what you do to "get away when you can't get away." DoDee and skichic 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!

Member of the Month: September 2010

Congratulations Kim (podiumchick)! The Scrap Girls Team has chosen Kim as the Member of the Month for September!

Kim joined Scrap Girls in May, 2007 and has been a huge asset! She is active in the Real Life Forum, participates in challenges and swaps, and is very helpful to other members by answering questions and offering support. Scrap Girls wouldn't be the same without her!

Kim receives a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique and has the honor of wearing the Member of the Month blinkie!

When you have a few minutes, Kim, please tell us a little about yourself and share a link to your favorite layout! Thank you for making Scrap Girls a wonderful, friendly place! Congratulations!!

Contest Winners

August's Message Board Game: Posting Contest

Congratulations to the winners of August's Message Board Posting Contest:

Sara Arell - $20 Gift Certificate
teecee - $10 Gift Certificate
Heatheranne - $5 Gift Certificate

Congratulations to this month's winners! Please send an email to [email protected] to claim your prize, if you haven't already received it!

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. In this class, you will learn some tricks of combining 2, 3 (or even more) layout templates and templates of all sizes to create your own unique digital layout template.

Word Play: Creative Text Techniques eBook

Would you like to take your layouts up a notch? Can you imagine your boring old title transformed into an impressive visual element on your page? This digital scrapbooking ebook will show you how!

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 Make a Birthday Scrapbook Page

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 Brandy Murry
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Designer Freebie by Brandy Murry coordinates with her Grande Dame Collection Biggie

Commercial license versions of Families Are Forever Collection, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Tied Tags, Inspired Collection Biggie and Brush Set: Intaglio Swirls 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

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Monday, September 6th - 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 us, Carla (CRS) and Lei (Bride) on September 6th at 7pm MT!

Life Moments Crop & Chat
Tuesday, September 7th - 2:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) in the chat room September 7th at 2pm 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 focusing on Back to School Memories. If you're like me, you may not have Back to School photos of yourself, but I've found other photos that will work with this challenge. Go ahead, dig through your files, write down your memories, and be sure to join us in the chat room!

Creative Cards Chat
Tuesday, September 7th - 6:00PM MT

Do you use your digital 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 April (April Showers) for the monthly Card Chat on Tuesday, September 7th at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 8th - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) each Wednesday at 12 Noon Eastern Time 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 September 8th, we'll do a favorite photo challenge! Create a layout show casing a recently-taken favorite photo! You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

Baby Theme Crop
Wednesday, September 8th - 7:00PM MT

Do you need some motivation getting those baby layouts or 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 Wednesday, September 8th at 7pm MT to work on those layouts and chat about our children and grandchildren!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, September 9th - 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 Pat (PBarnes) at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

Sketch Challenge Crop
Thursday, September 9th - 7:00PM MT

Join Marnie (sprinklz) for the Sketch Challenge and Crop on Thursday, September 9th 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 in the Boutique Chat
Friday, September 10th - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) 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, September 11th - 7:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) and Lei (Bride) at 7pm MT in the chat room for our Monthly Recipe Swap Chat. Please check the message board on Thursday, September 9th for this month's theme and the swap details!

Journaling Challenge Chat
Monday, September 13th - 6:00PM MT

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Bride (Lei) for a Journaling Challenge Chat at 6pm MT on Monday, September 13. Struggle to find the right words for your layouts? Are your layouts more decorative than descriptive of the moments you're trying to capture? Then you won't want to miss this chat - we'll have a special challenge to encourage you to journal on your pages more! See you there!

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

September Message Board Game: Simplify September!

It's time to kick off a new season and the upcoming holidays with fun and focus on scrapbooking! And a few prizes thrown in never hurt, right? Join us on the message board this month for "Simplify September!" This Message Board game and challenge is meant to help you get those photos out of your camera and get started on your holiday cards, 2011 Calendars and focus on taking time to scrapbook regularly, despite the little speedbumps of life. When the month is over, you'll have completed several projects and have been challenged along the way.

A member of the Welcoming Committee will post a task every day from September 1st - 30th in the game thread. Don't let the idea of daily tasks intimidate you. When we say "mini," we mean it. Our goal isn't simply to keep you busy, but to direct your focus through baby-step tasks that will lead you to completed projects. Some tasks will require Message Board participation, email responses or Gallery posting. Read each daily task carefully to see what is required of you. (If nothing is specified, then it is an "on your honor" task, and we'll trust that you did as required - tasks will often build upon one another, and we'll see in later tasks that you completed earlier ones.)

PRIZES: Those who complete all tasks and submit or post required participation by 11:59pm MT on September 30th will be entered in a drawing to win one of three $10 Gift Certificates to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Those who complete just the layouts will be entered in a separate drawing to win one of three $5 Gift Certificates. (Those who complete all tasks will have their name entered in both drawings!)

Winners will be announced in the Newsletter on Saturday, October 9th.

For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls Message Board.

Layout Contests:

September Monthly Layout Contest: You may not think about it often, but you do make a positive impact on those around you. For the September contest, we want you to scrap a layout about something you have done that made a positive impact on someone else. It might be in your role as a parent, a friend, a teacher, or a team member in sports or at work. Post your layouts in the September Gallery before Midnight MT on September 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!