Note: While Ro is recuperating from her broken hand, the Scrap Girls team has pulled together some of their muses for your enjoyment!

Sara Peterson

New Situations

Whenever I am faced with a new situation, I freeze up in fear. I come up with so many excuses on why I can't do it. Some of my excuses are silly and some are valid. Yet, when I finally trust God with the outcome, take a deep breath, grit my teeth and face my fears head on, things always turn out for the better. In fact, they usually have wonderful outcomes. I still haven't learned from my past. I still fear the new situations in life. Even as I am in the midst of them, I panic and convince myself that I can't do it. Yet, without any of my scary experiences, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

I have a new scary experience that I need to face. I thought it might help to remind myself of my scariest experiences and the wonderful outcomes. It is my hope that in reviewing these I will be able to meet my new fear head on.

I can't have a college roommate. I don't know anyone and I am shy. We'll have nothing to say to each other. I just want to be by myself.

My college roommate is still one of my closest friends.

I can't have boys! I don't know anything about little boys. I can't just braid their hair to be the perfect mom.

My boys are the greatest blessing in my life. Each one has taught me something about myself that I never knew.

I can't move back to the town where we went to college. Our friends have moved on and we won't fit in.

After moving back, I made a friend who is as close as a sister. In fact, many people think we are sisters.

I can't be a teacher's aide for a surveying class. I won't remember how to use the equipment or any of the material. I have a two-month-old baby.

It was during this class that I realized how much I enjoyed teaching. My two-month-old spent a lot of time snuggling in the sling while I taught students how to use all of that fun equipment. It was my favorite class in college. I retained more than I ever thought possible.

I can't co-teach a college level "Writing for Engineers" class. I hate writing and proof reading. My co-professor was my English professor in college. She has a PhD and I just have a BSE.

What an honor it was when she requested that I teach with her again. I think I have learned more teaching that class than I learned in any of my college writing classes.

I can't join a message board. Have you read some of the mean, unnecessary comments people make?

Finding the Scrap Girls message board has been a wonderful experience. The advice, tips, challenges, constructive criticism and support that is found there have made me a better scrapper and artist.

I can't go to the Scrap Girls convention. I've never met these people. They won't know who I am. I'll be so shy I'll clam up and everyone will think I am weird.

What a weird and wonderful feeling to have so many people recognize my screen name and call me their friend.

I can't be an artist. I'm trained in engineering, not art.

I am honored to be a part of the Scrap Girls team as a product designer.

I can't write a muse. I don't have anything to say. I am too shy. No one will relate to me.

Deep breath. I'm working on that one.

Sara Peterson

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!

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 Melissa Renfro using November's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Melissa Renfro

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 Laurel Lakey using November's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Amanda McGee and Brandie Valenzuela

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 Embellishment Templates: Random Tears and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Random Tears - Large

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

This tutorial will show how to combine two ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates onto one layout. We'll combine the ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Random Tears with the ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Random Tears - Large and turn them into one large tear.

First, open the larger of the two embellishment templates that you wish to combine. In this case, "TKA_SS_Emb_RandomTears-Large_Tear1.psd."

Since I want to place a smaller tear to the right of the larger one, I need to expand the size of the canvas to the right. To do this, go to Image> Canvas Size and check the box that says "Relative." Add three inches to the right side of the image by placing a "3" in the width box and selecting the middle box on the left-hand side.

Now that the canvas is expanded, add the other tear. Open the next tear, in this case, "TKA_SS_Emb_RandomTears_Tear6.psd." Grab all of the tear layers and drag them over to the larger tear. Rotate it so that it is on the same plane as the larger tear.

Drag the smaller tear just past the larger tear and resize it as needed.

The shadow of the smaller tear is not in the same direction as it is on the larger tear. To fix this, invert the tear. Select all of the layers for the smaller tear, go to the toolbar and change the height of the element to "-100%." This will create a mirror image of the tear on a horizontal plane.

Line the tears up. Select all of the layers in both tears and link them together. This will make it easier to drag the tears and place them onto your layout.

Open the background paper that you would like to place the tears on and drag all of the layers onto it.

Select a paper that you'd like to see below the tear. Open it, drag it onto your working window and duplicate it. Drag one copy of the new paper layer above the cutout layer of the larger tear and one copy of the new paper layer above the cutout layer of the smaller tear. Apply a clipping mask (Ctrl+Alt+G) to both of the cutout layers.

The paper is now below the torn paper. Now your tears can be moved to any location by simply selecting all but the background layer and moving it with the Move Tool.

With this tutorial, you have learned yet another way to combine ScrapSimple templates. The combinations are endless!

Layout by Theresa Kavouras
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Random Tears, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Random Tears - Large and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Curled Edges 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:

Artistry: A Celebration of Digital Design Excellence eBook

Artistry: A Celebration of Digital Design Excellence highlights the best-of-the-best in digital scrapbooking focusing on high quality layout design, imaginative use of products, creative vision, top-notch typography, and artistic expression. There are different layouts in a wide range of styles and techniques to be found in the book, and there are a multitude of ideas to be culled from the pages.

Colour (me) Creative eBook with 36 color swatches

Learn about the color wheel, color terms and their meaning, how to load the colour palettes in Adobe or use the colour strips with a colour selection tool. You get both valuable lessons and inspiration in this book filled with 48 layouts showcasing the use of the colour palettes along with links of all the products used to create the digital scrapbooking pages.

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

Now you can have all the past Scrap Girls Newsletter tutorials and Way Cool Stuff articles of the 2nd Quarter of 2009 in one convenient PDF format. It's easy to find those helpful hints with just the click of your mouse. You get two eBooks for the price of one!

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: How to Emboss & Texturize with ScrapSimple 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 Amanda Sok
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Designer Freebie by Amanda Sok coordinates with her Not Quite White Paper

* 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, November 20th - 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!

Back-Up Party and Chat
Friday, November 20th - 8:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April Showers in the chat room on Friday, November 20th for a Back-Up Party and Chat. We'll go over several different ways to safeguard your files. You won't want to miss this one!

Aussie Chat & Challenge
Monday, November 23rd - 9:00PM Australian Eastern DST

Please come join Karen (kazbar73) & Jo (scrappingjo) at 9pm Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time on Monday 23 November for a chat and challenge. This week's challenge is a Recipe Challenge. Create a Recipe Card (4 x 6) with your favourite salad recipe and then join us in the Live Chat Lobby for lots of fun and laughter as we talk about our recipes. For our International ladies, the chat will be on at 3am MT (5am New York) time.

New Member Chat
Tuesday, November 24th - 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, November 25th - 10:00AM MT

Join your guest host April Showers for the East Coast High Noon Crop every Wednesday at 10am MT. 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 November 25th, we'll do a gratitude challenge. Create a layout using photos and journaling to document what you are thankful for. 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!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, November 26th - 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 November 26th at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

What's New Chat
Friday, November 27th - 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!

Desktop Challenge Crop
Sunday, November 29th - 5:00PM 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 5pm MT for this month's Desktop Challenge 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 boost of motivation!

NOVEMBER EVENTS

November Message Board Game: The Alphabet Hunt

We're taking your ABC game skills to a whole new level this month... and tacking on some prizes as well! This month's message board game is "The Alphabet Hunt." Every few days, we'll give you a new theme and a searching task and then set you loose to start building our list in alphabetic order! Find the specifics about game play in the November Message Board Game thread in the Monthly Message Board Game folder on the Scrap Girls forum.

For each item you correctly add to our alphabetic list in the game thread on the message board, your name will be entered into a drawing which will be held at the end of the month. Five winners will be drawn and each will win a $5 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls boutique! Additionally, the person with the most correct contributions to the game will automatically win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap GIrls boutique! Participation is what counts big this month, so join us on the message board for the detailed rules, search specifics and LOTS of fun!

Layout Contests:

November Monthly Layout Contest: Life is busy; so full of activities and distractions. What pulls you away from what you really want to do? We want you to scrap it! For the November Layout Contest, we want to see what pulls you away from what you want to do. Create your layout and post it in the November Layout Contest Gallery before Midnight on November 30th. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the details tab. If your layout is chosen, you could win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

November Mid-Month Layout Contest: We all know one; maybe you even are one. You know her, the woman who can do it all and make it look easy... a Superwoman! For the Mid-November Layout Contest, scrap a layout all about that Superwoman in your life. Post your layouts in the Mid-November Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight, December 14th and you will be eligible to win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the details tab.

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.)