Ro Paxman

Light By a Sidewalk

"How will I get there?" Meg asked, her worry dripping from her brow. "I'll get lost."

I pointed. "See the signs? Follow them. If you follow them, you'll be able to get anywhere you need to go. If you get lost, keep wandering around until you see a sign. It's pretty here and the walk will be pleasant."

She knit her eyebrows together.

I nodded at her.

Reassured, she wandered away.

As I thought of her that night, my heart said a little prayer of gratitude. Being with her had given me a chance to practice being calm and peaceful when other people are not.

I found her the next day, trudging up the hill, her eyes still knit together in worry. "I can't find the building," she said, tired and flustered.

I pointed. "See the sign? Just follow it. The building you want is right up there."

She turned and started marching up the hill.

"If you'll slow down," I said, smiling, "I'll walk with you."

As we began our journey together, she expressed her concerns that the food we would eat at lunch wouldn't be good and that the wait staff would be rude.

"You can relax," I said. "You can anticipate that everyone here will be nice to you because they will be."

She looked at me, stunned.

I continued. "You can anticipate that the food will be good because it is all wonderful."

She stared at my face.

I smiled again, softness filling my own brow. I repeated, "You can relax and enjoy yourself. You can anticipate that everyone here will be nice to you and you can also anticipate that the food will be good. Give yourself permission to believe that you are being taken care of."

As we continued our journey towards the cafeteria, she walked in peaceful silence, not knowing what to say.

The next day, as I walked past the swimming pool, I heard a woman laugh with delight as she played in the pool during a water class. The sound of her tinkling joy was so remarkable that I went into the next building and found a friend. "You have to hear this sound," I told her.

When she heard the sound of the laughter, she said, "That's Meg."

"Really? That's Meg?" I wouldn't have guessed that.

The next time I saw Meg I told her that I had heard her laughing in the pool. "Your voice was filled with so much joy that I didn't recognize it was you. You sounded happy."

She smiled at me. "I am happy. Thanks."

Jerry Garcia said, "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right."

I suppose that means you can also find light by a sidewalk.

- Ro

Layout by Ro
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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 is looking for qualified digital scrapbooking teachers to teach online Photoshop and/or Photoshop Elements classes.

The position involves:

Developing interesting and creative classes
Creating detailed PDFs for each class using either Adobe's InDesign or Serif’s Page Plus
Timely interaction with students in both chat room and forum situations
Providing kind and constructive feedback on student gallery homework
Timely and consistent creation and scheduling of classes

Candidates should have the following skill sets:

Comprehensive knowledge of Photoshop and/or Photoshop Elements - ability to easily handle questions that arise regarding their particular software area of expertise.
Excellent layout design ability
Attention to detail is a must
Excellent communication skills
Ability to handle fast-paced chat room situations
Warm and friendly personality

Applicants will be required to audition for this paid position using a class that they've developed.

Please contact Jan Hicks at [email protected] if you would like more information.

If you are interested in applying, please forward an up-to-date resume as well as a sample tutorial you have written to Jan at [email protected] and Brandie Valenzuela at [email protected]. Please include a link to your online gallery showing a sample of your layout designs.

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 Valerie Randall using August's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Valerie Randall

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 Cherise Oleson using August's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Keri Schueller and Cherise Oleson

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 Random Tears and Photo Folds

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS3 with Windows XP.

This tutorial will show how you can combine two ScrapSimple embellishment templates on one photo. Together, we'll combine the ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Random Tears with the ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Folds 4.

First, open the two embellishment templates you want to combine. I am using TKA_SS_Emb_RandomTears_Tear5.psd and TKA_SS_Emb_PhotoFolds4_Tmp 2.psd.

Drag all of the layers from TKA_SS_Emb_RandomTears_Tear5.psd to TKA_SS_Emb_PhotoFolds4_Tmp 2.psd and place the tear in the position you'd like it to appear on the photo.

Open the photo you want to apply this embellishment template to.

This would be the time to fix the photo if you desire. In this case, I desaturate the photo and apply a sepia tone.

Now, drag the photo to the window where the photo embellishment templates are. Resize, if necessary, and place the photo layer just above the base layer. Apply a clipping mask to the photo layer (Ctrl+Alt+G).

We need to delete the part of the photo that appears through the base of the random tear. To do this, right-click on the thumbnail of the TKA_SS_Emb_RandomTears1_Tear5_01-CutOut layer and Select Pixels.

Go to Select> Modify> Expand.

Expand the selection by about three pixels.

Select the base layer. Go to Edit> Cut and cut the selection out of the base layer. Note that we can still see the TKA_SS_Emb_RandomTears1_Tear5_01-CutOut layer.

Turn off this layer by clicking the eye.

From here, we may wish to make the folded paper of the random tear the same color of the photo tear. To do this, select some of the color from the corner of the photo tear.

Add a layer just above the TKA_SS_Emb_RandomTears1_Tear5_03-Tear layer and fill it with the color you just selected. Apply a clipping mask to this layer (Ctrl+Alt+G).

Apply a Blending Mode to this layer. I find that the "Color" Blending Mode works best with this tutorial.

Your photo is complete! Add it to a background paper; add some embellishments, text and other elements to finish the layout.

With this tutorial, you have learned yet another way to combine ScrapSimple templates. The combinations are limitless. Give it a go!

Layout by Theresa Kavouras
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Folds 4 and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Random Tears are also available.

Tutorial written by Theresa Kavouras

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 CS4, CS3, CS2, and CS
NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 6.0 and 7.0*
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro X (XI)

(*Have Photoshop Elements 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, or 5.0? We have a tutorial program that will work for you. Please visit the product details page for more information.)

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

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.

Colour (me) Creative eBook with 36 color swatches

Scrapbooking 911 - 20 Sketches to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking - Book 4

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set
2009 - 2nd Quarter

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: How to use ScrapSimple Tools: Custom Shapes & Patterns

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 Cherise Oleson
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Designer Freebie by Cherise Oleson coordinates with her
ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Naturally Handmade, part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Naturally Handmade Pieces, ScrapSimple Word Art Templates: Be Inspired, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Mega Lift I-Squared Biggie and Dynamic Brush Set: Pencil 4901 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

What's New Chat
Friday, August 28th - 9:00AM MT

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry_Lynn at 9am Mountain Time 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!

Swap Crop Chat
Friday, August 28th - 7:00PM MT

It's time for the Swap Crop Chat! 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. Join Carla (CRS) for a fun chat at 7pm Mountain Time on Friday, August 28th!

Scraplift Challenge Crop
Sunday, August 30th - 3:00PM MT

Join Amy (ManiakMama) and angelaNussbaum for a Scraplifting Crop. A few hours before the crop we will tell you the name of a Scrap Girls Team Member, and you will be able to choose one of their layouts to be your inspiration. During the crop we will also help explain about scraplifting, how to use a layout as inspiration, and the importance of giving credit. Scraplifting is a lot of fun! So come join us, you're sure to enjoy it!

Baby Album Chat
Tuesday, September 1st - 11:00AM MT

Do you need some motivation getting those baby 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) and Shari (Shari PV Mom) in the chat room on Tuesday, September 1st at 11am Mountain Time to work on those albums! You can start from fresh on a brand new album, or jump in where ever you are in your project. We'll provide an optional challenge each crop for motivation if you want one.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 2nd - 10:00AM MT

Join your guest host April Showers for the East Coast High Noon Crop every Wednesday at 10am Mountain Time. 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 2nd we'll do a Brush Challenge! Create a layout on any theme, any topic, and using at least one brush! You'd be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! We hope you'll join us!

What's New Chat
Friday, September 4th - 9:00AM MT

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Becca at 9am Mountain Time 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!

Back-up Party and Chat
Friday, September 4th - 2:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April Showers in the chat room Friday for a Back-up Party and Chat. We'll also go over several different ways to safeguard your files. You won't want to miss this one!

Labor Day Chat
Monday, September 7th - 7:00PM MT

Join Carla (CRS) in the chat room at 7pm Mountain Time for a fun Labor Day chat! Not only does Labor Day honor the working force, it's the unofficial end of summer in the United States and Canada. It also is the unofficial start to the National Football League and College Football seasons! So, take some time to come chat about your summer, football or work! Hope to see you there!

AUGUST EVENTS

August Message Board Game: Embellishment Hunters!

Calling all adventurous souls! Join us for the August Message Board game - Embellishment Hunters! This month, we're playing an old game with a new twist and hope you'll join us for fun and of course... prizes!

Your task is simple! Imagine a dartboard with 100 targets. To find the target hiding the embellishment of the day, simply guess a number between 1 and 100. The first person to guess the correct number is the daily winner and will be showered with applause and will proudly enjoy bragging rights PLUS the possibility of prizes at the end of the month!

All daily winners will be included in a month-end drawing with prizes including one $10 gift certificate and five $5 gift certificates to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Visit the Monthly Message Board Games Forum on the message board for specific rules and instructions about game play.

Layout Contests:

August Monthly Layout Contest: Be cool! Since we're in the middle of summer here in the U.S., thoughts of staying cool are at the forefront. For the August Challenge, we want you to scrap your photos of your favorite ways to stay cool during the hot summer months. Create your layout and post it in the August Layout Contest Gallery before Midnight MT on August 31st. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the details tab. If your layout is chosen, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

August Mid-Month Layout Contest: Everybody loves dogs – right? For the August Mid-month Challenge we want you to scrap photos of your dog(s) – current or past. Not a dog person? Then you can scrap your photos of your cat or any other pet. Create your layout and post it in the August Mid-Month Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight MT on September 15th. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the Details tab. If your layout is chosen, you will win a $10 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.)