Rozanne Paxman

How You Live

The Paxman family has lived in 23 homes over the past 33 years. We've lived in apartments, rental homes, furnished apartments, Air Force base housing, duplexes, starter homes, fixer-uppers, two-story homes, one-story homes, and a even trailer with windows that blew open with every strong gust of wind. We have purchased homes, sold homes, lost homes, regretted homes, and enjoyed homes.

Our homes were all different, and yet, they were all the same. When I think back on each home, I remember times of sadness, worry, and fear. But I also remember times of happiness, joy, and peace.

Right now – at this very moment – I am sitting in my bedroom, looking out over the Utah Valley. It is a beautiful sight, and it thrills me each time I take in the view.

But the valley is not contained in my home. It wouldn't matter if I was looking out the window of a shack or gazing through the panes of a mansion. The view of the valley wouldn't change. The only thing I can change is me – how I look at and respond to my surroundings. If I make up my mind to be happy and appreciate where I am, I will be happy and thankful. If I assume that I would be happier if I lived elsewhere, I won't be happy no matter where I am.

It doesn't matter where you live; it only matters how you live.

- 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!

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 Trish Yochum using February's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Trish Yochum

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

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

Layout by Janine Buckles using January's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Keri Schueller and Ariadna Wiczling

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!

Super Simple Valentine Cards

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS3 with Mac OS X.

Need some quick Valentines this year? You can give your Valentine a simple, homemade card using just a few digital scrapbooking supplies.

First, create a new document in Photoshop at 300dpi and 4x6 inches. Using items from the Cherries Jubilee Collection Biggie, place two papers as shown below and put a ribbon over the seam where both papers meet. You may wish to reduce the size of the papers (Cmd+T or Ctrl+T) so more of the pattern will show.

Next, draw a heart shape using a custom shape in Photoshop or use ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Hearts 2101 Biggie. Cover the heart with another pattern paper of your choice by using a clipping mask (Cmd+Opt+G or Ctrl+Alt+G for Photoshop or Cmd+G or Ctrl+G for Photoshop Elements). Then place the bird embellishment from Cherries Jubilee Collection Biggie on top of the heart and add drop shadows to all the layers.

To create the text, type in a sentiment and apply ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Sugar Coated 6501 to give it a little sparkle.

Here's another simple Valentine card you can make:

Create a new document in Photoshop with 300dpi and a measurement of 4x6 inches. Slide the solid blue paper from Cherries Jubilee Collection Biggie into your new document space. You may wish to resize your paper (Cmd+T or Ctrl+T) so that the pattern will show up better.

Next, add the blue cloud paper available in Naturescape Collection Biggie on top of the solid blue paper and resize so that it covers most of your document space, but leave a small portion of the solid blue paper showing at the top and bottom of the card.

Place the branch embellishment from Cherries Jubilee Collection Biggie on top of the cloud paper. Place the blue bird on the branch and erase the cherries in its mouth with the Eraser tool. The Cloning tool can be used to remove the part of the cherry stem that runs across the beak.

To create the second bird, duplicate the altered bird, flip it on a vertical axis and reduce its size slightly. Next, add the heart button and bow from the Cherries Jubilee Collection Biggie. You can give the embellishments a deep shadow to make them pop off the page.

The final step was to create the text and apply ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Sugar Coated 6501.

Yes, it's just that easy! Just for fun, I made two other cards by simply layering papers and elements and then applying ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Sugar Coated 6501 to the text.

After finishing the designs, I flattened the images, printed them on cardstock, and cut them out. Take a look at all my quick-and-simple Valentines that use digital scrapbook products.

Layout by Julie White
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Sugar Coated 6501 and ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Hearts 2101 Biggie are also available.

Tutorial written by Julie White

Check out the video tutorials on Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed and MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed to learn about making drop shadows, using clipping masks, and lots more!

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
NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro X (XI)

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

Now that you've learned the basics of digital scrapbooking with Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, you are ready to learn advanced skills for having even more fun while you create digital scrapbooking layouts!

Get a big boost learning how to use ScrapSimple products to make your own backgrounds, embellishments, and alphas with the MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements movie tutorial series. You'll learn so much that your digital scrapbooking layouts will never be the same!

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:

Scrapbooking 911 - 2-page Sketches
to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking eBook

Are you stuck in a creative corner? Need a jumpstart to your layouts? Want more ideas how to go from a blank page to a digital masterpiece? With a fresh collection of original sketches, all the hard design decisions (such as balance, composition, and rule of thirds) have already been made for you.

Scrapbook Quotes eBook
The right quote for your scrapbook layouts

Looking for scrapbooking quotes or quotes to use for greeting cards? Here's your solution. This packed eBook contains hundreds of quotes, collected over many years by Rozanne Paxman specifically for use on scrapbooking layouts.

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set
2009 - 3rd Quarter

Subscribers to the Scrap Girls Newsletter have one thing in common: they love to learn new techniques! Each issue shares ideas, tutorials, and new ways to use Scrap Girls quality digital scrapbooking products. Now you can have all those past tutorials and Way Cool Stuff articles of the 3rd Quarter of 2009 in one convenient PDF format.

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: The Beauty of Blending Modes: Using them with ScrapSimple Products

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 Caroline Kaiser
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Designer Freebie by Caroline Kaiser coordinates with her Sweets and Hearts Collection

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Sweets and Hearts Mini, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: 4x8 Cards - Love, Brush Set: Bubble Wrap, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Kitchen Papers, AMC_Friendly Font, ScrapSimple Tools - Scripts: Supply Tracker 11101 and ScrapSimple Tools - Scripts: File Save 1 11101 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

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, February 10th - 10:00AM MT

Join your 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 February 10th, we'll do a "Hearts" challenge! Create a layout using at least one heart! 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!

Journaling Challenge Chat
Wednesday, February 10th - 5:00PM MT

Join Becca and Shari PV Mom for a Journaling Chat at 5pm MT on Wednesday, February 10th. 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!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, February 11th - 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 Michelle (Shelbi) and Shari (Shari PV Mom) at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

Sketch Challenge Crop
Thursday, February 11th - 7:00PM MT

Join Marnie (sprinklz) for the Sketch Challenge and Crop on Thursday, February 11th at 7pm MT in the Scrap Girls Chat Room! Like getting a little jump start on your layouts? Then this challenge is for you! A few hours before the challenge begins, Marnie will post a sketch for you to use as the starting point for your page. You can be inspired by the basic arrangement, the amount of photos, or copy it literally. All interpretations are welcome and encouraged!

What's New Chat
Friday, February 12th - 9:00AM MT

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and Sherry (Sherry_Lynn) at 9am MT 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!

ScrapSimple Club Chat
Sunday, February 14th - 4:00PM MT

We know everyone is excited for the new ScrapSimple Club to come out on February 15th. Come join Sherry_Lynn and guest ScrapSimple Club Designers Ariadna (scrapariadna) and Keri (Keri S) on Sunday at 4pm MT for a ScrapSimple Club Chat and Crop! We'll be discussing ideas on different ways to use the current club. As a challenge, let's create one more layout using January's ScrapSimple Club before the next one arrives.

Love Stinks! Chat
Sunday, February 14th - 5:00PM MT

It's Valentines Day and you're home. No fancy restaurant with fine cuisine or a quiet evening having love showered upon you? Well, Scrap Girls loves you! Join Sherry_Lynn in the Chat Room Lobby at 5pm MT on Sunday, February 14th! We will talk about boxes of chocolate, fabulous flowers, even our favorite Valentine's Day ever. Did you already celebrate? Well, don't despair! We still want you to join us!

New Member Chat - Early Edition
Tuesday, February 16th - 1:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) at 1pm MT for a fun chat to get to know our newest members. We will discuss the message board, gallery, chocolate and so much more! Everyone is welcome, new or not so new! Not sure how to get there? Just click the "chat room" button at the top of this newsletter; you will need Javascript enabled to access the chat room.

FEBRUARY EVENTS

February Message Board Game: BINGO!

It's that time again! Join us for an exciting game of BINGO on the Message Board Forum in February! Pick 25 words from the list provided in the forum and send them in an email to [email protected] with a subject line that says "BINGO CARD - your SG message board username" by Saturday, January 30th (Midnight MST) in order to play in the first round, which will begin on Monday, February 1st.

Each day, members 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 forum 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:

February Monthly Layout Contest: During the month of February, many people turn to thoughts of love. What greater love is there than the love for family. For this month's contest, we want to see layouts about your family – either the one you grew up with or the one you have started. Create your layout and post it in the February Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight MST on February 28th. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. If your layout is one of the two chosen, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Club Concepts Layout Contest: Post your new layout using the current club selection (either the Scrap Girls Club or the ScrapSimple Club) in our Scrap Girls Club Members Gallery or the ScrapSimple Club Members' Gallery. Be sure to list all of the Scrap Girls products you used. If your layout is chosen, it will be showcased as a Club Concepts layout winner, and you will win a $5 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.)

Haven't received your prize as a contest winner? Please send an email to [email protected] and we'll get it out to you right away!