Ro Paxman

Courage to Live Today

Moonlight streamed through my window. As the light danced around the room, my mind traveled back in time.

I stood at my parents' car and shook the hand of a man I would not marry even though he wanted to marry me.
I missed the importance of a conversation that was held in 1976.
I felt the first movement of my oldest child as a soon-to-be mother.
I saw one of my sons tumble down the stairs.
I saw myself making a mistake that would haunt my life for ten years.
I relived the moment when I received dreadful news via a telephone call.
I saw the events of two days play over and over, as if they were stuck. I longed to pop myself on the side of my head and get them to move forward to a conclusion.

I lived and relived every joy, mistake, failure and accident in those hours and wondered about it all.

People speak of having an event to overcome – in the singular. But, there have been multiple events in my life, often occurring in rows like fields of corn. Sometimes, they have crashed upon my life like waves in a stormy sea. What does it all mean?

Our society at large seems to have the misperception that it is possible to have a charmed life and if it doesn't occur, then individuals who are experiencing trials have made dreadful, unforgivable mistakes which require public flogging. Public figures are admired (for their wealth and stature) and yet, if they slip and make an error or experience disaster, the media runs stories about the failures repeatedly as some sort of proof that this individual did not deserve their achievements and that they must be brought down.

I believe that the sadness in the media's shark-like behavior is that it permeates the rest of our lives. We are drilled into the belief that individuals who make mistakes or have trials must be humiliated. Because we believe this, we find it hard to admit to our failures and mistakes, even to our close associates. We fear becoming shamed and isolated just when we need love and support the most.

Perhaps, this fear of sharing ourselves with each other (because we all do make errors) contributes to the depression and loneliness so many individuals feel. People who have made mistakes feel bad about themselves. They fear losing their support system by admitting what they have done.

Perhaps, this fear of sharing ourselves with each other (because we all do experience trials) contributes to the unwillingness we often exhibit to reach out to others when we are experiencing difficult times in our lives. We feel that because we have hit a rough patch, we will be looked upon by those who surround us as less than we were.

It takes courage to get through these moments in our lives. It takes courage to ask for help. It takes courage to talk about what is happening to us. Sometimes, it just takes courage to exist, to stand up and walk.

I found this poem this morning about courage and I would like to share it with you. I hope that you enjoy it.

I believe that, ultimately, we have to find a source of courage greater than ourselves because when we face certain trials, there is not a source of help from humankind that is great enough. Abraham Lincoln, who often talked about the strength he received from God during his darkest hours while he dealt with the difficulty of leading a country in turmoil said, "Let us have faith that right makes might; and in that faith let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it."

Sometimes, that is all we can do – our duty. We simply must get up, face the day the best we can and do our duty the best we can in each singular moment.

That, my friends, is courage.

- Ro

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!

It's that time... the Scrap Girls Convention is nearly here! Don't miss the chance to learn, meet, and make friends with other Scrap Girls from all around the world!

Here are the facts:

When: October 8-10th, 2009

Where: Salt Lake City, Utah

What's Included
- 4 (four) meals (two lunches and two dinners)
- A Collection Biggie, designed especially for the convention
- Other free digital scrapbooking supplies, designed for class materials
- PDFs of the class materials
- Action-packed classes on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Crops, games, and time to hang out and make friends with other Scrap Girls
- The chance to meet in person and get help from Scrap Girls designers, layout artists, and welcoming committee members
- Memories that will last forever!

Note: Convention begins at 1:00 pm - Thursday, October 8th and ends at 6 pm - Saturday, October 10th.

How many people may attend? Only 126 and almost all of the seats have been sold! Don't miss out on this opportunity - secure your place now!

What will you learn? Here is a list of the classes and who will be teaching:

- How To Create Silhouettes with Brandy Murry
- How to Combine and Mix-up Digital Layout Templates to Create Unified Albums with Angie Briggs
- Using Styles To Make Your Photos look like Oil Paintings with Shalae Tippetts
- Tips and Tricks to Make Albums Fast! with Cherise Oleson
- How To Improve the Lighting of Your Photos with Laurel Lakey
- New Tricks for Using ScrapSimple Paper Templates with Marnie Adams
- How To Make a Slide Show with Your Layouts with Brandie Valenzuela
- Advanced Techniques To Improve Your Layouts with Christy VanderWall

A Canon Representative will be there to teach advanced techniques for using our cameras. She is going to award a prize! Then we'll have a special photo shoot.

We hope you come because you're special to us and we are dying to meet you! Scrap Girls is all about making friends while we enjoy the hobby that allows us to save our memories in a fun way. Having you with us would be awesome!

Sign up now!

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 Angie Briggs using September's Scrap Girls Club
larger view

Created for you by Angie Briggs

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 Brandy Murry using September's ScrapSimple Club
larger view

Created for you by Brandy Murry and Durin Eberhart

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!

Scrap Girls Convention 2009 - Digital Scrap Link (Connections Live)

Welcome to Orrinda. We are so glad she took a few moments to answer questions regarding her experience from the 2008 Scrap Girls Convention and her excitement for 2009!

Tell about one thing that you learned at the 2008 convention:

It snows in early October in Utah. I have never lived in snow country. That was a big deal for me!

Did something make you laugh?

Karen Chandler in the purple and silver wig. There was so much laughter going on that it's hard to isolate instances. Photos with faux Moss. Interviews with the designers. Duct tape. Games.

Food! What was your favorite dish or snack - besides the necessary Scrap Girls staple of chocolate?

The goodie bag snacks were great! I loved the catered meals. The food was imaginative, well-prepared and nicely presented. Though I did not request it, I really appreciated the effort made to accommodate those with special dietary needs. Breakfast at the Guest House. And the coffee that was available all day. And, of course, the pizza on Saturday night. Hey, I love food!

Did you bring or wear purple?

It did not even occur to me to bring purple since it is not a color commonly found in my over-stuffed closet and drawers. Hmmm... I smell a shopping trip coming on.

What is your favorite memory from the 2008 convention?

The people. It's hard to expand on that. I really value being able to establish a personal connection with those who up until then had been a small mote in cyperspace.

Why are you excited about attending the 2009 convention?

Seeing the faces, hearing the voices, sharing the hugs and the laughter — I hate to say this, but the scrapping almost takes a backseat to the personal connections being made. I learned some great tricks last year and am hoping to continue to expand my knowledge base; but I'm really looking forward to the smiles.

What advice do you have for people who are not sure about attending the convention this year?

I am not very good at doing things for myself. When I made the decision to go last year, it was one of the few truly selfish things I have done (I'm 60 — I should know better.) So, my advice is, be a little bit selfish! As the L'oreal commercials say, "You're worth it." And the experience is worth it. You will return home energized by new friends and with a new perspective on digital scrapping. After all, that's why we're there. Right?

Do you have a favorite photo or layout you would like to share from the 2008 Convention?

This is the layout (below) I started and others finished in the Progressive Scrap. I had the great fun of being at the table hosted by Marnie Adams.

Layout by Orrinda
larger view

Want to share your memories from the Scrap Girls 2008 Convention?
Click hereto visit the message board and find out how!

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 Carrie Stephens
larger view

Designer Freebie by Carrie Stephens coordinates with her Happy To Be Me Collection Biggie

* 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

New Member Chat
Tuesday, September 22nd - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes) and Carol Ann (Zaz) for the New Member Chat at 7pm MT in the Live Chat room lobby. This is a great place to ask questions about getting around the Scrap Girls site or about digital scrapbooking in general - and a great place to make some new friends. All are welcome, new and long time members included. You do need to have Java installed on your computer to access the Live Chat.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 23rd - 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 23rd, we'll do an embellishment challenge! Create a layout using embellishments - flowers, tags, frames, what ever you'd like! Make use of those fancy, fun embellishments! You'd be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! We hope you'll join us!

Journaling Chat
Wednesday, September 23rd - 5:00PM MT

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Becca for a Journaling Chat at 5pm MT. Struggle to find the right words for your layouts? Are your layouts more decorative than descriptive of the moments you're trying to capture? Then you won't want to miss this chat - we'll have a special challenge to encourage you to journal on your pages more! See you there!

Faith Journey Chat
Wednesday, September 23rd - 7:00PM MT

Come join Shalae (satippetts) for the Faith Journey chat at 7pm MT. We'll be discussing the topic of recognizing blessings through adversity. You're welcome to scrap on the topic or chat with us about it. All faiths are welcome!

What's New Chat
Friday, September 25th - 9:00AM MT

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry_Lynn at 9am MT Friday morning 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
Friday, September 25th - 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 MT on September 25th!

Aussie Chat and Challenge
Monday, September 28th - 9:00PM Australian Eastern Standard Time

Please come join Karen (kazbar73) and Jo (scrappingjo) at 9pm - Australian Eastern Standard Time on Monday 28 September for a chat and challenge. This week's challenge is to create a new desktop wallpaper for you computer screen. Join us in the Live Chat Lobby for lots of fun and laughter as we talk about how we use our scrapping skills to create desktop wallpapers. For our International ladies, the chat will be on at 5am MT (7am New York) time.

Desktop Challenge Crop
Tuesday, September 29th - 6:00PM MT

Are you bored with the simple backgrounds that your PC or MAC came with? Want to learn more about using your Scrap Girls products to make exciting and colorful new desktop wallpapers? Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Becca at 6pm MT for this month's Desktop Crop. A few hours before chat time, we'll give you some details on how to get started, plus a technique challenge and a theme for an extra dose of motivation!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 30th - 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 30th, we'll do a multiple photo challenge! Create a layout on any theme, any topic, and any colors - using seven or more photos! You'd be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! We hope you'll join us!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, October 1st - 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 Shari (Shari PV Mom) and Michelle (Shelbi) on October 1st at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

September Message Board Game: BINGO!

It's that time again! Join us for an exciting game of BINGO on the Message Board in September! Pick 25 words from the list provided in the Monthly Message Board Game forum and send them in an e-mail to [email protected] with a subject line that says "BINGO CARD" and your message board user name by Wednesday, September 2nd (11:59pm MT) in order to play in the first round which will begin Thursday, September 3rd. Each day, members of the Welcoming Committee will call 5 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 can be cleared and a new round will begin the following day. All winners win a $5 gift certificate to the boutique! We like to see lots of winners, so please remember that each person can only win one round during the month. Have fun!

If you miss the first round cutoff date, 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. Everyone who sends in a Bingo card will receive a confirmation email that their card has been received. If you do not receive confirmation within 24 hours, please re-send your list of words.

Layout Contests:

September Monthly Layout Contest: We're coming up on the date 09/09/09. For this layout contest, we want you to create a layout using repetition. It can be a photo that is repeated, an embellishment, a color... the possibilities are many. Create your layout and post it in the September Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight MT on September 30th. 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!

September Mid-Month Layout Contest: Everybody has some one or something in their life that has made a difference for them. For the September Mid-month Gallery contest, we want you to scrap a page about someone or something that has been a positive influence in your life. It could be a parent, a spouse, a teacher, an organization, or maybe a school or church. Create your layout and post it in the September Mid-Month Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight on October 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!

Signature Contest: Season of Change

Summer is coming to a close with Fall just around the corner in the Northern hemisphere and weather is getting warmer in the Southern. Kids have gone back to school and before we know it, the holidays will be upon us. It's time to update those signatures. The guidelines for signatures and instructions for linking can be found here. Create your signature using mostly Scrap Girls products, following the guidelines, and upload to the Season of Change Signature gallery by 11:59 PM Mountain Time, September 30th to be eligible for the contest. Two winners will be randomly selected - one person will receive a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls boutique and a runner-up will receive a $5 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls boutique! It's time to replace those crazy monkeys before they're gone for good!

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.)