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Gifts Galore! Place an order totaling $10 or more before December 23rd and
Layout by Cheré Kaye Edwards
Scrap Girls' 12 Days of Christmas!
Layout by Ashleigh Bronner
Designer Freebie by Ro
12 Days of Christmas Games! Christmas Quiz Let's play a Christmas game and the winner will get a $20 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! All you have to do is send the answers to the following questions to [email protected]. The answers to the questions are names of products in the Scrap Girls Boutique. You'll see... It's really pretty easy! Please include the product name and its web address link for each answer. Use the subject line: "Christmas Quiz" for your email entry; include your name and your Scrap Girls Forum user name, if available. Everyone who gets the correct answers to ALL of the questions in by 11:59pm MST on Tuesday, December 20th will be entered into a drawing to win the prize.
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A Long Wait for a Little Miracle
Saturday, December 17, 2011
IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
- Gifts Galore!!
- 12 Days of Christmas
- 12 Days of Christmas Stories
- Cute Stuff
- ScrapSimple Club
- December's Member of the Month: Julie
- Just Because It's Fun
- Designer Freebies
- What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
- Ongoing Opportunities for YOU
GENERAL INFORMATION
Support Center We Accept:
The entire Scrap Girls team wants to say how grateful we are that you have chosen to participate with us. You'll never know just how much your support means to us and our families. Ro P.S. Your email address is safe with us. We never share, rent, sell, or loan our list with anyone! P.P.S. If you ever need any assistance, please email [email protected] or call IMPORTANT TO KNOWDon't forget to check out the Retirement Sale section of the Boutique. Items in this section are always on sale for 30% off. The items you will find during any particular month will be discontinued permanently on the 5th of the following month. So if you see something you like, grab it while you can! OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUCustomer Muses: Would you like to share your own Life Muse with our readers? To have your own essay considered for publication as a muse in the column for our special Saturday newsletter, send your essay to [email protected]. If your essay is selected, you will receive a $20 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique. Way Cool Scrap Girl: We are so excited to have all of you meet some of the amazing people that have become Scrap Girls! If you would like to be spotlighted and win a $25 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique, send the following items to [email protected]:
Project SG Challenge: Stay motivated to scrap your current photos! Post your 2011 layouts in the Project SG Challenge Gallery to earn one point per layout each month. You can earn up to four points per month this way! Earn a bonus point each month by attending the monthly Project SG Chat! Each point gives you an entry into a quarterly drawing for a special prize! And at the end of the year, each month that you participated in will earn you an entry into the Grand Prize drawing for a 12 X 12, 52 page Keepsakes photobook from Color, Inc! Our fourth quarterly drawing winner will be announced in the Saturday, January 7th Newsletter. Suggest a Challenge, Win a Prize! Have a great idea for a Gallery layout challenge? Submit it to [email protected]. If your challenge idea is chosen, you will win a prize! Friday will be Customer Challenge Day, so keep an eye out on the Message Board calendar. It will be fun to see what YOU come up with for us to do!
Of course, it is a surprise what you will get because birthday presents are always surprises! But you will like it for sure because most people like money.... Anyway, make sure your Message Board email address is current and that you have the correct date entered into your profile to participate. *ADVERTISEMENTS*
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12 Days of Christmas
Welcome to one of Scrap Girls' most cherished traditions - the 12 Days of Christmas newsletter celebration! We've been hosting this celebration since the beginning of Scrap Girls back in 2005. Back then, I was putting the newsletter together when I suddenly noticed that Christmas Eve was 12 days away.
Now, a 12-day event is something I love best about Christmas.
In some areas of the United States, people enjoy picking out a family in their neighborhood that they can secretly give little gifts to as a way of celebrating how grateful they are for the birth of Jesus Christ. Every evening after dark, some lucky person in the gift-giving family sneaks up to their target's front porch, deposits that day's gift, rings the doorbell, and takes off running with all their might. A successful 12-day campaign means that the receiving family never knows who has showered them with love.
Because I hadn't planned it out, the first Scrap Girls 12 Days of Christmas event was pretty simple - consisting of some extra freebies, a daily Christmas muse by me (this is when muses first appeared in the newsletter), and some neat layouts and samples. Angie Briggs quickly noticed that I needed a little help with this project – because, as I said, it was not pre-planned - and she started feeding me extra layouts for the newsletters. I'll always love her for that. She saved my bacon!
The second year (2006), without thinking through the ramifications of what it would mean for future celebrations, I decided to surprise our readers with a 12-part serial story. You know... like Charles Dickens used to write. (I'm a little nuts sometimes.) That first story – The Flight of Christmas - took me months to write and remains my favorite one to this day. (I have now written five serial stories for this annual event.)
The specially-designed set of 12 Days Embellishments first made their appearance in 2007. The games - including the Infamous Tree of Doom - made their debut in 2008.
So, as you can see, the 12 Days of Christmas event grew from me having a desire to share a little extra holiday spirit with you into an event that takes our team months to prepare for. We keep it going because it's just one small way we can let you know how grateful we are for you and your support of our company. When you refer your friends to us and share what we are doing, you help keep Scrap Girls going. Every time you shop with us, you help us maintain our Forum, our Gallery, our newsletters, our blog, and every other service we offer you. And, of course, you help us to be able to continue to provide you with the free daily downloads that you all enjoy so much!
We need you. We understand that completely. We want you to know that our team members and their families are sublimely grateful for you each and every time you choose Scrap Girls to be your source for the beautiful digital scrapbooking supplies you need to make your layouts and projects. Every time you make a purchase in our Boutique, you make a HUGE difference in many, many lives. You help keep this small business going!
This year's 12 Days of Christmas stories come from our readers who submitted them when we put out a call for amazing stories related to the holidays. Every day from now through Dec 24, you'll read a new story that will make you laugh heartily, think deeply, and maybe blink back a tear or two. We received lots of amazing stories and had a hard time picking just 12!
So here we go! This is the 2011 Scrap Girls 12 Days of Christmas event. I hope you have fun!
- Ro
A Long Wait for a Little Miracle
Christmas is about the birth of our Savior, and it's oh-so-much fun to celebrate it with children! It just never occurred to me that the wait to celebrate Christmas with our babies would take so long.
For years, my husband and I struggled with infertility, trying to understand God's plan. After expensive treatments and surgery, we began losing hope that we would ever conceive. So we became foster parents, hoping to adopt a baby in need of a home. Several heartbreaking placements later, we lost this hope as well.
In the meantime, my youngest brother, Kent, had given me a book on international adoption. Deciding to give it a try, we began the long journey of interviews and paperwork and finally got on a waiting list for a baby girl in the beautiful country of Guatemala. During the wait, I lost my job - and my baby brother.
Yet God allowed blessings to come from these tragedies. In losing my job, I would be able to stay home with our little girl when she arrived. Losing my brother led to an inheritance that replaced my lost income and helped pay the final adoption costs. I know my brother would have been proud to play yet another role in God's plan. He had loved all our foster children so much and helped lead us to the path of international adoption.
Almost two years after filing the first application, we got the phone call that a baby girl had been born! Our paperwork had almost expired, and we were told we might have to begin again. In tears, I looked at the photo of our precious baby girl, and I told her she was worth the wait. International adoptions can easily become bogged down in paperwork and politics, but just a few months later, we got the call that we could go get our daughter.
Both sets of grandparents joined us for the trip to Guatemala to pick her up. Imagine the surprise when our whole family arrived at the orphanage. During our first meeting with Christina K. (after her Uncle Kent), she began smiling and laughing - and hasn't stopped since.
At the U.S. Embassy, we were told our agency must be doing something right. They hadn't seen a child as young as our daughter leave the country in quite a while. For me, it was more evidence of God's hand at work. So, at the age of 40, I brought home my five-month-old baby girl just in time for her first Christmas season.
There aren't enough words to describe the joy she has brought our family. We have learned to trust that God's timing and plan may be different than ours, but His ways are always good. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9, New International Version).
Our baby girl's first Christmas was a long while in the making, but it was so worth the wait!
- Sonya Davis
Layout by Shari Payne
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Layout by Angie Briggs
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The product listed below is included in this month's Scrap Girls Club offering. Members receive a substantial discount on these club supplies. They are also available elsewhere in the Boutique at regular prices for those individuals who would rather not join a club.
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Layout by Pebbles Jones
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Layout by Melissa Renfro
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The first three products listed below are included in this month's ScrapSimple Club offering. Members receive a substantial discount on these club supplies. They are also available elsewhere in the Boutique at regular prices for those individuals who would rather not join a club.
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Date Slides, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Signs of Times and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Clocks are also available. |
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Layout by Sarah Batdorf
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Commercial license versions of Christmas Happiness Collection Mini and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available. |
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Layout by Jan Ransley
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Layout by Syndee Nuckles
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Word Art Templates: Editable Text Christmas, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Butterfly Shadows 6301 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Photo Edges 6301 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Crumpled Paper 6301 are also available. |
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Layout by Angela Blanchard
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Exploding Box and Christmas Chronicles Collection Biggie are also available. |
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If you have praise, comments, or questions for any of our Product Designers or Layout Artists, did you know you can send them a PM (private message) using the Message Board? It's easy!
If you are a registered user of the Message Board, just click on the "PM" box at the bottom of any of their posts to send them a message. Or, to check out more of your favorite designer's layouts, visit the Scrap Girls Design Team section of the Layout Gallery.
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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). A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple Club is also available here. With the ScrapSimple Club, you will receive:
December's ScrapSimple Club has been created for you by
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 Layout by Melissa Renfro using December's ScrapSimple Club larger view |
 Layout by Laura Louie using December's ScrapSimple Club larger view |
 Layout by Melissa Renfro using December's ScrapSimple Club larger view |
Julie
Scrap Girls' Member of the Month - December 2011
Member Name: jhochstetler
1. What program do you use to do your digital scrapbooking?
Adobe Photoshop Elements 8
2. Are you a Mac or a PC?
PC
3. Tell us the make and model of digital camera that you use.
A Kodak Z812 IS.
4. Name one thing that every beginning digital scrapbooker should know.
Look in the gallery for inspiration and watch lots of tutorials.
5. If you could be transformed into a digital scrapbooking embellishment, what would you choose and why?
A flower, because there are so many different kinds and you can sneak them in pretty much anywhere.
6. What time of day do you find that you do your best scrapbooking?
Whatever time the house is empty.
7. What is your favorite snack?
Raw veggies and dip.
8. Finish this sentence. "I couldn't live without..."
My scrapbooking subjects.
9. What's your current favorite layout that you've done?
Layout by jhochstetler
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Saturday Newsletter Challenge
Every third Saturday of the month, Ro will have a Newsletter-exclusive layout challenge for you! Post your layouts in this Gallery by the following Wednesday at 11pm MT (don't forget to list the supplies you've used!), and if your layout is chosen to appear in next Saturday's Newsletter, you will be awarded a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!
Ready for this month's challenge? Use this phrase Everyone Smiles in the Same Language as the title for your layout!
Here are just a few product suggestions to get you started...
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Commercial license versions of Winsome Collection and Christmas Dinner Collection Biggie are also available. |
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Weekly Layout Winners
Layout by englishrose
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Fragmented, Shark Lagoon Collection and Action Pack: Mega Lift PSE are also available. |
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Layout by sanot
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 Get A-Round and Arts N Crafty Kids Collection Biggie are also available. |
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Want to see your layouts make an appearance in the Scrap Girls newsletter?
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 Saturday 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 receive your gift!
Want to see past winners of the Weekly Layout Contest? Visit the Weekly Layout Winners Gallery on our Message Board!
Surprise! Surprise! More Gifts Galore!
We have TWO designer freebies for you each day until Christmas Eve!
Layout by Cindy Rohrbough
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Designer Freebie by Cindy Rohrbough coordinates with her Rustic Alley Metal Embellishments Trinkets
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Commercial license versions of Rustic Alley Metal Paper and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Christmas Edge are also available. |
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Today's freebie designed by Cindy Rohrbough
Layout by Angie Briggs
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Designer Freebie by Angie Briggs coordinates with her Merry Little Collection Mini
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Commercial license versions of Merry Little Collection Mini are also available. |
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Today's freebie designed by Angie Briggs
* 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.
Swap Crop Chat
Saturday, December 17th - 6:00PM MST
It's time for the Swap Crop Chat with Lei (Bride) and Carla (CRS)! 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 brainstorm a theme for next month, too! If you haven't done so, you can check out past swaps in the Swap Crop Gallery!
ScrapSimple Club Chat
Monday, December 19th - 6:00PM MST
Join April (April Showers) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) on Monday, December 19th at 6pm MT for a chat and challenge using this month's ScrapSimple Club. Did you know that every time you create a layout with the current ScrapSimple Club and upload it into the ScrapSimple Club Gallery that your page could be chosen to be featured in the Newsletter and receive a prize? Join us for the chat so we can encourage and inspire you and help with any questions that you may have. Let's get those ScrapSimple Club layouts done and uploaded!
New Member Chat - Early Edition
Tuesday, December 20th - 1:00PM MST
Join Debbie (B&K Mom) at 1pm MT for a fun chat to get to know our newest members. We will discuss the message board, gallery, chocolate and so much more! Everyone is welcome, new or not so new! Not sure how to get there? Just click the "CHAT" button at the top of this newsletter; you will need Javascript enabled to access the chat room.
Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, December 20th - 2:00PM MST
The Life Moments Challenge is about encouraging YOU to do an album about YOU! On the day of the chat, Pat will post the theme for the chat on the Message Board. You can do your layout before, during or after the chat. There are no deadlines! Join Pat (PBarnes) in the chat room at 2pm MT to talk about the theme and creating a digital album about yourself.
Faith Journey Chat
Tuesday, December 20th - 6:00PM MST
Join Elisha (elibar) and Lei (Bride) for a Faith Journey Chat on the third Tuesday of each month at 6pm 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!
December Message Board Game: BINGO!
Join us for an exciting game of BINGO on the Scrap Girls Forum during the month of December!! Pick 25 words from the list provided and send them in an email to [email protected] with a subject line that says "BINGO CARD - your Scrap Girls Message Board username" by Friday December 2 (Midnight MST) in order to play in the first round. The first round will begin on Saturday, December 3rd. If you miss the first round deadline, 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.
Each day (Monday through Saturday), a member 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 game thread to win that round. After a winner is called, the boards will be cleared and a new round will begin the following day.
Each winner will receive a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! We like to see lots of winners, so please remember that each person can only win one round during the month. Have fun!
For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls Forum.
December Monthly Layout Contest: For the December Monthly Layout Contest, it's all about the gifts! Scrap a layout about a gift that was extra special, either one you gave or received. Or you can scrap about something or someone you consider to be a gift in your life. Share with us what makes that gift special! Post your layouts in the December Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight MST on December 31st. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. Two layouts will be selected to win a $10 Gift Card 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!