10 Random Things

My favorite thing to do on Facebook is write/read "notes." My all-time favorite note was titled "25 Random Things." It was a lot of fun to read my friends' random thoughts. When I wrote my own, I didn't think I could think of 25 little blurbs – but it turned out that I couldn't stop at 25! Try it yourself. It's pretty entertaining. Here are just 10 of my random thoughts for today:

Mushrooms make everything taste better. So does melted mozzarella cheese. Hence, one of my favorite foods is stuffed mushrooms.


When I was little, I often tried to eat margarine by the spoonful. I even asked for tubs of margarine for Christmas.


I am currently employed as a speech therapist. Ironically, I talk very fast and very often!


So far, I think the toddler stage was the hardest part of parenting. I might change my mind when my daughters become teenagers.


I wish I could be "on fire" for God again. I want that spiritual high that I had when I became a Christian eight years ago. Someday....


I don't mind cleaning toilets, but I hate mopping the bathroom floors.


I enjoy exercise, but I hate to sweat.


The main reason I want to lose 10 pounds is to fit into my best friend's hand-me-downs.


It drives me nuts when people make mistakes with the possessive and plural "s" in the English language.


I cannot fathom the sacrifices our soldiers make for us. I can barely be away from my children for a weekend, let alone a one-year deployment.

- Diane

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 Elisha Barnett using January's Scrap Girls Club
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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 Trish Yochum using December's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Trish Yochum 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!

Once a month, we share with you about a recent class at Scrap Girls. Today, I'd like to share a bit about one of the classes that Mary Elizabeth taught called "Digital Photography Simplified."

Online Class: Digital Photography Simplified
Instructor: Mary Elizabeth O'Toole

Learning new photography techniques is a very popular topic at Scrap Girls, so we were thrilled that Mary Elizabeth was going to offer her six-week Digital Photography Simplified class again. In this class, students were challenged to take their photography to the next level with the help of the eBook, Digital Photography Simplified. With this eBook and Mary Elizabeth's skillful instruction, students were able to learn top photography theory, tips, and techniques in topics such as aperture, composition, lighting, and more.

Since improving everyday digital photos was a big part of this class, Mary Elizabeth worked with students to learn more about how their digital camera works and how to apply the theories through weekly photo challenges. These weekly inspirations were sent to students through an email with samples and assignments for applying new techniques. Another major focus of this class was creating a portfolio that they could use to showcase their photos.

While there are many online photography courses available on the Internet, what made this online class even more special was that the instruction was taught with a specific emphasis on digital scrapbooking. There was a focus on creating photos and layouts that make a powerful impact on the viewer. Students learned new ways to frame and present their subject to create more dynamic layouts.

As with all Scrap Girls Online Classes, students were able to interact with the instructor and the other students in a private Message Board forum. They also had access to a private gallery for sharing their photos and layouts for feedback. In addition to these valuable offerings, there were six one-hour class sessions in a private Scrap Girls chat room, with complete transcripts being provided after each class session.

The students' homework was a bit different from other classes. Rather than completed layouts, they put together samples. This first sample by nanica shows what she did when learning all about aperture.

Photo Samples by nanica
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In this sample by gma808, she explains how she played with the white balance setting on her camera while shooting a loaf of bread. These shots were taken on different settings, with no natural lighting in her kitchen.

Layout by gma808
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The Digital Photography Simplified class has been completed, but we do repeat classes. Be sure to keep watch on our Online Class section of the Boutique to find future class offerings to help you expand your digital scrapbooking skills.

Article written by Brandie Valenzuela, Scrap Girls University Principal

Weekly Layout Winners

Layout by mbc72
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Molly Milkshakes Biggie, Scenic Route Embellishment Mini, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Paper Scraps, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Mega Lift I - Squared Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Mega Lift II - Circular Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Glittered Gelly 6401 Super Biggie and Day To Day Life Collection Biggie are also available.

Layout by DaveUK
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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!

December's Scrap Girls Club Concepts Layout Winners

Layout by katiemo
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Torn Edges are also available.

Layout by Westina
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Congratulations, katiemo and Westina!! We loved your layouts so much we had to share it with everybody! katiemo and Westina each receive a $5 Gift Certificate for their layouts using December's Scrap Girls Club! Congratulations!

Congratulations to this Club's winners. Please email [email protected] to get your gift!

Want to see past winners of the Scrap Girls Club Concepts contest? Visit the Scrap Girls Club Concept's Winners Gallery on our Message Board here!

Member of the Month: January 2011

Congratulations Bobbie (bjc)! The Scrap Girls Team has chosen Bobbie as the Member of the Month for January!

Bobbie joined Scrap Girls in November 2007 and has been a huge asset! Bobbie is incredibly helpful in the "Questions, Comments and Suggestions" Forum. She has amazing photography tips and is very active in challenges and chats. Scrap Girls just wouldn't be the same without her!

Bobbie will receive 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, Bobbie, 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

Sweet December Challenge

Congratulations to SandiC, Pab & katiemo for being chosen as the winners from the Sweet December Challenge. Each winner receives a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! The final two winners will be announced in next week's Newsletter.

Congratulations to these 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:

30-33 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:

Scrapbook Quotes: The right quote for your scrapbook layouts

Looking for scrapbooking quotes or quotes to use for greeting cards? Here's your solution. This packed eBook contains hundreds of quotes, collected over many years by Rozanne Paxman specifically for use on scrapbooking layouts.

Inspirations eBook

What happens when you move digital scrapbooking beyond the basic page? What happens when you allow the layout to blur the edges between keepsake and art? Find your answers and take the next step in Inspirations: Celebrating Life's Joys With Digital Scrapbooking eBook. This eBook is meant to highlight the hopes and loves, the faith and joys, the simple days and big events that give our lives meaning and inspire us - and the pages we create about them. There are different layouts in a wide range of styles and techniques to be found in the book, and there are a multitude of ideas to be culled from the pages.

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set - 2010 1st 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 1st Quarter of 2010 in one convenient PDF format. It's easy to find those helpful hints with just the click of your mouse. You get two eBooks for the price of one!

Mastering Brushes for Photoshop

Whether you are just finding out about brushes, or have been using them for a while, this eBook will help you see and understand the creative power that brushes contain and give you new ideas for using them in your digital scrapbooking layouts.

See more titles

Layout by Cheré Edwards
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Designer Freebie by Cheré Edwards coordinates with her Life: Everyday Collection Biggie

Commercial license versions of Life: Everyday Collection 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

NSBR Chat
Monday, January 3rd - 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 Carla (CRS) and Lei (Bride) on January 3rd at 7pm MT!

Project SG Chat
Tuesday, January 4th - 5:00PM MT

Do you know what Project SG is? If not, join April (April Showers) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the chat room to learn more about it. We will help you get started and hopefully keep you motivated. We will let you know how you can earn points for posting layouts and be eligible to win a prize!

Creative Cards Chat
Tuesday, January 4th - 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) and Theresa (tiza126) for the once-a-month Card Chat on the first Tuesday of each month at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

Life Moments Crop & Chat
Tuesday, January 4th - 7:00PM MT

Join Theresa (tiza126) in the chat room on January 4th at 7pm MT for the 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 Resolutions - past or present, serious or humorous. So dig through your files, write down your memories, and be sure to join us in the chat room!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, January 5th - 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 January 5th, we'll do a photo challenge! Create a layout using your favorite recent photo(s)! You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

ATC Swap Crop & Chat
Wednesday, January 5th - 6:00PM MT

Please join Lei (Bride) and Elisha (elibar) in the chatroom for our ATC (Artist Trading Card) Swap Crop/Chat on the first Wednesday of each month at 6pm MT. Come see what everyone has created and we'll talk about next month's topic. We're looking forward to seeing you there!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, January 6th - 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!

ScrapSimple - Use It! Chat
Friday, January 7th - 8:00AM 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) and Elisha (elibar) for this monthly chat on Friday, January 7th at 8am MT as we focus on using one category of these versatile products!

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique Chat
Friday, January 7th - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) at 9am MT on Friday mornings to chat about all the cool new things in the Scrap Girls Boutique. What are your favorite new items? Is your shopping basket full? What did you kaboodle? Have you already done layouts or other projects with your new goodies? Come tell the designers how much you love their work. You never know who will show up. There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat too!

Back-Up Party and Chat - Early Edition
Friday, January 7th - 2:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April (April Showers) in the chat room at 2pm MT for the Early Edition of the Back-up Party and Chat. The goal of these chats is to make sure our back-ups are current. Come chat while you back up your files. We'll also go over several different ways to safeguard your files and even give you some tips on organizing your supplies. Grab some chocolate and we'll see you in the chat room!

Recipe Swap Chat
Saturday, January 8th - 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 the Thursday before the chat for this month's theme and the swap details!

JANUARY EVENTS

January Message Board Game: Jumpstart January!

Join us on the Message Board this month for "Jumpstart January!" This is a Message Board game and challenge to start your year with fun and focus on taking time to scrapbook regularly despite the little speedbumps of life. When the month is over, you'll have completed several layouts and been challenged and treated to some fun along the way.

A member of the Welcoming Committee will post a mini-challenge/task every day from January 1-30 in the Games folder on the Message Board. Check out the game thread titled "January Jumpstart 2011" for complete details and rules.

Those who complete all tasks and submit or post required participation by 11:59pm MT on January 31st 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, February 5th.

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

Layout Contests:

January Monthly Layout Contest: Now that the snow is flying in some parts of the world, we are focusing on staying warm! For the January Layout Contest, we'd love to see what you do to stay warm! Do you have a favorite blanket or sweater? Or is there a family favorite comfort food you turn to in the winter? Let's scrap the photos and stories that help keep us warm! Post your layouts in the January Gallery before Midnight MT on January 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!