Ro Paxman

Unlock Your Heart

“How many times should we forgive?” the question came.

“Seventy times seven,” the Lord replied.

We are commanded to forgive for many reasons. Holding anger towards someone troubles our soul and wears away at us when we harbor unkind feelings. Our focus is on the hurt we feel we have sustained rather than on the good we can do. Our focus is on proving that we are right and they were wrong.

I have been thinking about this topic recently. I have generated a list of questions which helped me think it out. I thought I would share what I learned with you today. I understand that there will be those that do not agree with my conclusions. That’s okay. We do not have to agree with each other on all matters.

What is forgiveness?

I believe that forgiveness is a state of mind. When we forgive, we let go of anger, hurt and resentment and replace it with kindness, love and understanding that people make mistakes.

How can we tell that we have forgiven someone?

We are not focused on what has happened. Our spirits and minds do not clench up when we think of it. It is (almost) as if it happened to someone else. We no longer feel the need to talk about what happened so that we can prove that we were right and the other person was wrong. In fact, we no longer feel the need to discuss it at all unless we are sharing our experiences so that others can understand what we learned from what happened.

Are we expected to act as if nothing is wrong when we are around the individual who has hurt us?

When we have forgiven someone, we will replace harshness with kindness. We will speak nicely to them. We will not bring it up in an effort to prove that they hurt us. However, we do not need to allow the behavior that hurt us to continue. We can set limits or expectations for future interactions so that the conflicts or harmful behavior do not continue. In other words, we do not have to lie down on the railroad tracks to allow the harmful train to run over us again. If it is unsafe for us to continue with the relationship, we will withdraw completely. If we are setting expectations and the individual is not willing to abide by our wishes, we may need to withdraw temporarily. If our friendship is important to them, they will respect our wishes.

Are there any methods that can help someone with the forgiveness process?

I have used the following methods with success:

Write in my journal and express my feelings, what I hope to do about it, what I need to happen. I work on this until I reach a peaceful, strong state of mind.


Use mental pictures to heal. I often picture the individual on a raft that is floating down a river. I wave goodbye to them and watch it float around a bend until the raft is out of site. I have noticed that if I am still harboring hurt or unkind feelings, I have difficulty allowing them to float around the bend. If I am able to let them float around the bend, it is over.


Prayer


Studying the scriptures.


Reading books written by wise people, such as Dr. Laura.

Quotes I like on forgiveness:

“When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.” - Catherine Ponder


“To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” - Robert Muller


“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” - Lewis B. Smedes


“People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than for being right.” - J. K. Rowling


“Most of us can forgive and forget; we just don’t want the other person to forget that we forgave.” - Ivern Ball

- Ro

Layout by Ro
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Commercial license versions of Dynamic Brush Set: Basic Stitching 4901 Biggie and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Stitch 1801 are also available.

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.

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 Kim Meeder using June's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Keri Schueller

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 or Word Art Template Set
1 Brush Set
2 Designer's Choice Items

A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple club is also available here.

Layout by Syndee Nuckles using June's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Paula Wright and Syndee Nuckles

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!

Using ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Tattered Photo 8501 Mini

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 with Windows Vista.

You can use ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Tattered Photo PSE 8501 Mini for more than just pictures. Using digital scrapbooking papers instead of a photo gives you more options for using this action.

To begin, open the paper you would like to use with the tattered action. For this tutorial, I am using Amanda Sok's "Frippery Paper Silhouette" available in her Frippery Collection Biggie and "Action 1" in the ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Tattered Photo PSE 8501 Mini.

Crop the paper to 5x7.5 inches, per the instructions, and click on the action to run it.

To get less of a sketch look and more of the paper, when the action asks you to change the levels, move the middle gray slider all the way to the right.

This is the result of running the action.

Keep in mind that any paper with a light or white background will disappear when blended in this action, so choose papers with different colors if you do not want this result.

You can also create great text embellishments, such as a name, title or tag. For this sample, I create a new 5x7.5 inch document and use a coordinating paper and alpha from the Frippery Collection Biggie. I place my name at the bottom so I can use it as a tag under the tattered mat.

This is the result of running "Action 2." I use the same technique of moving the middle gray slider all the way to the right for a more realistic image instead of the default sketch.

Layout by Brandy Murry
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Polka Swirls are also available.

Tutorial written by Brandy Murry

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!

Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 6.0 and 7.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 5.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 4.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 3.0
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed (Photoshop 7, CS, CS2 and CS3)
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro (PSP) X
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro (PSP) 9

Do you wish you could learn how to scrapbook digitally, but feel kind of intimated? Well, here's the solution for you! This large set of video tutorials allow you to actually watch Ro scrapbook. And because Ro covers such a large number of topics in this item, it is one of the most cost-effective digital scrapbooking tutorial series available today.

No wonder tens of thousands of people have chosen Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed as their method of learning to scrapbook digitally!

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!

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

*NEW!* MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop
MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop Elements

It's time for you to stop playing catch-up in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and start having a blast creating your own digital scrapbooking supplies! You'll also learn all sorts of tricks that professionals and advanced digital scrapbookers use in their layouts. And because Ro covers so many topics in the series, it is one of the most cost-effective methods of moving your skills to a higher level. Join in with the thousands of digital scrapbookers who have chosen to learn advanced skills from Ro. You'll be happy that you did!

Note: These are NOT beginning tutorials. If you get this training and you have never used Photoshop or Photoshop Elements before, or if you aren't pretty sure of yourself in the software, you are going to be lost. You simply have to understand layers, where things are located, and all of the basic, important skills that Ro teaches in her Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed series before you try to use it.

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:

The Virtual Canvas 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? The Virtual Canvas: Celebrating The Art of Digital Scrapbooking eBook will provide those answers for you.

Digital Photography Simplified

Colour (me) Creative eBook with 36 color swatches

Scrapbooking 911 - 20 Sketches to Revialize Your Digital

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: Making a Just Because Card Using ScrapSimple Card Templates

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 Theresa Kavouras
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Designer Freebie by Theresa Kavouras coordinates with her Sweet Success Collection Mini

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Curled Edges and ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Slipped Stitches 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

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, June 24th - 12:00Noon ET

Join your guest host April Showers for the High Noon Crop every Wednesday at Noon ET. 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 June 24th, we'll do an All About Home challenge! Create a layout showing us something about your home - past or present. A favorite room, your comfy reading nook, the special times with family around the dinner table, the exterior, a home improvement project, your first apartment - show future generations your living arrangements! You'll have one hour to create a layout and upload to the special High Noon Crop gallery. You'd be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! Meet new friends and have fun in the chat room!

Journaling Chat
Wednesday, June 24th - 8:00PM ET

Join Becca and angelaNussbaum for the Journaling chat on Wednesday at 8pm. Are most of your layouts decorative? Do you have stories to tell, but just not motivated enough to make a layout with journaling? We are going to challenge you to do a layout with your journaling in mind. Come join us and tell your stories.

Faith Journey Chat
Wednesday, June 24th - 9:00PM ET

Join Shalae (satippetts) for the Faith Journey Crop at 9pm ET. We'll be discussing and scrapping the word "peace." It's a great time to share our testimonies and experiences in our different faiths. All faiths are welcome!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, June 25th - 4:00PM ET

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 Michelle (Shelbi) and Shari (Shari PV Mom), on June 25th , at 4pm ET, in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

Ad Inspiration Challenge and Chat
Thursday, June 25th - 9:00PM ET

Join Pat (PBarnes) on Thursday, June 25 at 9 PM ET for an Ad Challenge and Chat. A few hours before the chat, a magazine ad will be posted on the message board to use as inspiration for a layout. You can use whatever you want to from the ad - the colors, the shapes, the composition. There are no wrong answers!

What's New Chat
Friday, June 26th - 11:00AM ET

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry(Sherry Lynn) at 11am ET on Friday 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!

JUNE EVENTS

June Message Board Game: Re-JUNE-venate!

We helped you jumpstart your January and now it's time to re-JUNE-venate your focus on scrapbooking! Join us on the message board this month for “Re-JUNE-venate”! This is a message board game and challenge that focuses 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... with prize opportunities thrown in as well!

A member of the Welcoming Committee will post a mini-challenge/task every day from June 1-30. Some tasks will require message board participation, email responses or gallery posting. Read each daily task carefully to see what is required of you. Those who complete all tasks and submit or post required participation will be entered in a drawing to win one of three $10 Gift Certificates to the ScrapGirls Boutique! Those who complete just the layouts will be entered in a drawing to win one of two $5 gift certificates. Those who complete just the speedbumps will be entered in a drawing for one of two $3 gift certificates. (Those who complete all tasks will have their name entered in all three drawings!)

Join us in June for some serious scrapbooking re-JUNE-venation!

Layout Contests:

June Monthly Layout Contest: Do you have cobwebs and dust bunnies that need cleaning? How about some mental spring cleaning? Scrap it! For the June Monthly Layout Contest, we want to see your layouts featuring Spring Cleaning, either physical or mental. You could win a $10 gift certificate to the boutique if your layout is chosen! Just post your layouts in the June Monthly Layout Gallery before June 30th at Midnight EDT and you will be eligible to win! Be sure to include the credits for items used in the description area or under the Details tab. We can't wait to see all your inspiring layouts!

June Mid-Month Layout Contest: Did you know that June is National Candy Month? To celebrate this wonderful month, we'd like to see layouts inspired by your favorite candy bar! Just post your layouts in the Mid-June Monthly Layout Contest before July 14th at midnight EDT and you will be eligible to win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique. Be sure to include the credits for items used in the description area or under the Details tab. Good Luck!

Check our message board calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in Eastern Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-New York' as the location for the Eastern time zone.)