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Easy Mint Chocolate Bark Candy
Thursday, December 1, 2011
IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
- What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?
- Answer 3 easy questions and maybe win a Kindle Fire!
- URGENT! Win $25 from Scrap Girls!!
- Scrap Girls, Etc.: Easy Mint Chocolate Bark Candy
- ScrapSimple Club
- Tips from the Pros: Features to Look for When Purchasing a DSLR
- Designer Freebie
- What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
- Ongoing Opportunities for YOU
GENERAL INFORMATION
Support Center We Accept:
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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 hello@scrapgirls.com 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 hello@scrapgirls.com. 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 hello@scrapgirls.com:
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 second quarterly drawing winner will be announced in the Saturday, July 9th Newsletter. Suggest a Challenge, Win a Prize! Have a great idea for a Gallery layout challenge? Submit it to challenges@scrapgirls.com. 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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Answer 3 easy questions and maybe win a Kindle Fire!
How would you like to win a GREAT prize - like a Kindle Fire - and not have to do anything but answer three easy questions to do it? Wouldn't it make a great Christmas present for someone you love - or yourself?
Now's your chance! Just head over to the Scrap Girls Blog to read all of the rules. Look for the post named: Blog Contest: Easy way to win great prizes including a Kindle Fire
Here is what the lucky winners will receive:
THE PRIZES
ONE (1) Kindle Fire (The winner will be able to watch their Presentation Digital Scrapbook 1-2-3 videos on YouTube on this!)
TWO (2) CDs of Michael Lucarelli's music (Michael Lucarelli Plays the Beatles)
THREE (3) $10 Gift Certificates for the Scrap Girls Boutique
All of the rules for the contest are in the blog post. It ends on Tuesday, December 6th, so don't delay.
And while you are there... make sure that look around and see all of the improvements we've made. Make sure that you subscribe to the Scrap Girls Blog because it has all new, unique content and tutorials that are not found in the Scrap Girls newsletter. We are also going to be running special blog contests and giving away blog-only discounts that you won't want to miss.
Go to the Scrap Girls Blog to read all of the details.
See you there!
URGENT!
Be one of 12 people to win $25 Christmas CASH from Scrap Girls!
Get ready to capture the magic of the Christmas and holiday season! You could be one of 12 people who will win a $25 pre-paid Visa gift card!
Let me explain...
If you are one of the many, many, many who have told me over the years how much you love, love, love my annual 12-part Christmas story, thank you! I write each story from my heart – sometimes it takes weeks and months, and sometimes the inspiration comes so overwhelmingly fast that I have been known to pump out an entire story in a two-day, no-sleep marathon.
This year, I was inspired to ask you to be part of creating a very special experience for the Scrap Girls community. You see, this year, the 12 Days of Christmas will come from your heart. That's right – YOU! I want to hear YOUR stories of Christmases past. I want to share YOUR stories of the marvels and miracles of the season.
So I'm going to do something I've never done before. I'm going to feature one story every day for 12 days, beginning December 13th. And because I want this to be extra special, I am going to award a prize that I've never handed out before...cash. The author of every story that gets selected will receive a $25 pre-paid Visa card that you can use anywhere in the world that Visa is accepted.
CONTEST RULES
Here's what you need to do to be one of the 12 stories that are selected:
Write a 500-word (maximum length, please) story that tells about something you have experienced during Christmas or the holiday season sometime in the past. Or tell a story that has been handed down through the generations in your family. All I ask is that it be true (to the best of your knowledge) and somehow connected to you. (Please don't send us a retelling of something you read somewhere else!) Make this a story, a retelling of an actual event, not just a collection of thoughts about why you love Christmas or the holidays.
Was there a time when you saw something miraculous happen at Christmas or during the holidays? Can you recall a first Christmas or holiday memory with your loved one, your child, or maybe the last Christmas or holiday with your great-grandmother? We love to share good stories around here, and we don't mind having to grab a tissue, so write with all your heart to speak to our hearts!
We will edit the story as needed for clarity, grammar, punctuation, length, etc., though we will make every effort not to change the meaning of anything you write. However, the better you write, the less we have to edit, and the happier you will make our editor!
Submit a layout or a photo that goes with your story. Any layout or photo of a craft product submitted must use only Scrap Girls supplies.
You don't have to make a layout or a craft project to have your story selected, but we would like to have some kind of image such as a photograph to go with the story. People enjoy stories best when they have images to connect to.
IMAGE REQUIREMENTS:
- Submit two sizes of each image that accompanies your story:
- 600 px wide (72 dpi)
- 300 px wide (72 dpi)
- Attach images to email, as described below.
STORY REQUIREMENTS:
- Story should be written in a word processing program, such as MS Word or Works. If you don't have one, you can download a nice one without charge from OpenOffice.org.
- In the document, you will include:
- Your story
- Your complete contact information (mailing address, phone number, email address)
- Supply list for any layouts/craft projects images you are supplying. Give us the name of the product (must be from Scrap Girls). If you can include the link to the Scrap Girls product page, it would be super-helpful to our newsletter team.
- Image file names
- Attach the document containing this story, etc. to your email.
SUBMITTING YOUR STORY
- Email your story to hello@scrapgirls.com
- Subject line: My 12 Days Story
- Attachments, which include:
- Story document
- Scrap Girls publication release (Download it HERE)
- Images (see above)
- The deadline for the story submission is Midnight, MST on Tuesday, December 6th.
- One entry per person.
HOW YOU WILL KNOW IF YOUR STORY HAS BEEN SELECTED
Just to keep things interesting, we're not going to tell anyone if they have been selected ahead of time! You'll just have to hop out of bed every morning and rush to your computer and open up your Scrap Girls Newsletter with all the wonder of a child on Christmas morning and look to see if your story got published that day!
After the newsletter is published, we will send the daily winner the good news and will tell them how they will receive their $25 pre-paid Visa card.
I'm so excited to see what you are going to send me! I think that this year's 12 Days Newsletters will be the best yet!
- Ro
Article written by Syndee Nuckles
Easy Mint Chocolate Bark Candy
With the holidays fast approaching, it's time to pull out all those great cookie and candy recipes, but if you are like me, you want to try at least one new recipe each year. I find that I am constantly on the lookout for quick and easy recipes for holiday desserts. There are so many other things going on around this time of year, who has time to bake an elaborate dessert? Not me!
My daughter, Kailey, found this recipe at Target with their baking goods display (pretty great idea on the store's part!). It worked on us, because we took one look at the photo on the recipe card and bought the ingredients. This has to be one of the simplest recipes for candy bark that I have come across, and the best part is, it only takes two ingredients!
Ingredients:
1 10oz. (1½ cups) package of Nestle® Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels
½ cup coarsely chopped oven roasted or toasted almonds
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pour morsels onto a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet (roughly 9x11-inch rectangle in size). Arrange the morsels so that they are in a single layer but touching each other. We used a 10x15-inch glass pan which we had on hand.
Bake for 1 to 3 minutes until the morsels are shiny. Remove from oven and place on a heat- safe surface. Using the tip of a butter knife, a chop stick, or wood skewer, immediately swirl the melted morsels to create a nice design.
Sprinkle with nuts. (You can substitute pretzels or any other kind of nut.)
Refrigerate for an hour before breaking into pieces.
That's it! So quick and easy! For a great gift idea, place the candies in a pretty foil or parchment paper-lined tin and tie a ribbon around it!
Happy Baking!
Scrap Girls, Etc. is a weekly column pulling bits and pieces from all over Scrap Girls. Stay tuned each week as Scrap Girls' team members bring you tutorials, musings, recipes, interviews, design/software tips and tricks, layout walk-throughs, and who knows what else!
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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:
November's ScrapSimple Club has been created for you by Brandy Hackman and Keri Schueller
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 Layout by Brandy Hackman using November's ScrapSimple Club larger view |
 Layout by Keri Schueller using November's ScrapSimple Club larger view |
 Layout by Brandy Hackman using November's ScrapSimple Club larger view |
Features to Look for When Purchasing a DSLR
Note: Tutorial created using Photoshop CS5 with Windows 7
Are you in the market for your first DSLR camera? If you already own one, then you probably already have a good idea of what to look for. But for those of you who are looking for your first DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera, you’ve come to the right place.
The first thing you want to think about is what you plan on using it for. Are you just looking to take better photos of your family? Will you be primarily taking sports or action photos (and thus need speed to be a priority?) Are you hoping to someday start a little photography business of your own? Do you take lots of pictures in low light situations? These things come into play when choosing a bottom-of-the-line camera body versus a middle-of-the-road or top-notch model.
Next, you want to consider budget. The camera body isn't the only expense in purchasing your first DSLR. You'll also need a camera bag, a spare battery, a memory card or two, lens or lenses, and possibly filters. (I suggest getting an inexpensive filter to protect your lenses from scratches.)
When considering brands, there are many to choose from. Canon and Nikon tend to be the most popular, and they tend to have the most options for lenses, but they aren't your only choices. Sony, Olympus, Pentax, and others offer perfectly good options. If you've owned a film SLR, there is a good possibility that the lenses you already have might be compatible with a DSLR so you might want to stick with the same brand. If not, then keep in mind that once you choose a brand, you will probably stick with it for the long haul. Make sure it feels good in your hands before you commit.
There are many options you can weigh when considering what to get when purchasing your first DSLR. You might want to consider putting more of your budget towards higher quality "glass" (lenses). Good glass will grow with you as long as you stick to the same brand. The bottom-end camera bodies in this day and age are much better than their predecessors, and there's a good chance you might want to upgrade in the future.
Layout by Shari Payne
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Sun Bursts, Holiday In Lights Collection Biggie, Jingleberry Collection Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Photographic and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available. |
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Article written by Shari Payne
Learn to make digital scrapbooking layouts and more! - Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed Ready to learn advanced techniques? - MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed |
Surprise! Surprise! Gifts Galore!
We have TWO designer freebies for you each day until Christmas Eve!
Layout by Amanda Fraijo-Tobin
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Designer Freebie by Amanda Fraijo-Tobin coordinates with her Holiday Brights Collection Super Mini
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Commercial license versions of Dynamic Brush Set: Snow and Glitter 6401, Dynamic Brush Set: Stitching 6401, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Icicle Brights 6401 and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Masks - Transferred are also available. |
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Freebie designed by Amanda Fraijo-Tobin
Layout by Angie Briggs
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Designer Freebie by Angie Briggs coordinates with her Warm Wishes Collection Mini
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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.
6th Annual Cookie Recipe Card Exchange
It's time for our 6th Annual Cookie Recipe Card Exchange and you're invited! This year we have a special free recipe card template to help you get started. We love cookies and we love getting new cookie recipes to try, so this year all the participants will receive a sweet little gift just for joining in. All those who participate will not only receive all of the yummy recipes but you'll also receive a $2 gift certificate to spend in the Scrap Girls boutique.
Look here for the details of how you can join in on the fun:
http://scrapgirls.net/forum/topic/54283-virtual-cookie-recipe-card-exchange-2011/
Here's the free recipe card template:
Layout by Angie Briggs
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Designer Freebie by Angie Briggs coordinates with her ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 4x6 Cook It
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A commercial license version of Jingleberry Collection Biggie is also available. |
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Freebie designed by Angie Briggs
Project SG Chat
Thursday, December 1st - 6:00PM MST
Join April (April Showers) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the chat room on Thursday, December 1st at 6pm MT for the monthly Project SG Chat. If you aren't sure what the project is, join us to find out the details. You can even win fantastic prizes for joining in!
What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique Chat
Friday, December 2nd - 9:00AM MST
Join April (April Showers) and Theresa (teecee) at 9am MT on Friday mornings to chat about all the wonderful new products 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!
NSBR Chat
Monday, December 5th - 7:00PM MST
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) at 7pm MT!
Creative Cards Chat
Tuesday, December 6 - 6:00PM MST
Do you use your digital scrapbooking 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 (tiza 126) for the once a month Card Chat on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 PM Mountain standard time (5:00 pacific, 7:00 central, 8:00 eastern). Can't wait to see you there!
Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, December 6 - 8:00PM MST
Join Theresa (teecee) in the chat room for a Life Moments Chat at 8pm MST. These chats are meant to get you inspired to scrap about yourself. A theme will be posted earlier in the day to help you get started. Hope to see you there!
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 games@scrapgirls.com 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!