Rozanne Paxman

Carried Away with the Morning Star

It's gone. It's gone. Yesterday is gone and with its passing, it carried away the mistakes you made in its rooms.

No one can chain you to your errors but you. No one can let the pain of regret you feel as you remember your shortcomings continue but you. No one can let the sound of the voices of those who are determined to pull you back ring through your ears but you.

It's gone. It's gone. Yesterday is gone and with its passing, it carried away the mistakes you made in its rooms.

When you go to sleep tonight, let the troubles you have carried so faithfully climb under the bed so they can finally rest. Tell them you know they taught you much. Tell them you appreciate the growth you've made as they instructed you where you made your errors. Tell them you are grateful to be reminded that you are human and that you need God's assistance always. And tell them now that you have realized their importance, you are ready to let them leave with the twinkling of the Morning Star.

It's gone. It's gone. Yesterday is gone and with its passing, it carried away the mistakes you made in its rooms.

- 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!

Looking For A Few Good Layout Artists!

Do you want to earn free Scrap Girls products? Do you want the chance to have your amazing layouts published in the Scrap Girls newsletter? Are you a talented, fresh layout artist looking for a chance to be on our team?

Then you're in luck!

We are currently looking for new talent to add to our Layout Artist Team! If you're interested, go to the About Us page on our website, click on the "Find Out More" link to download the PDF and follow the instructions for sending in your application.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

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 Amanda McGee using April's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Amanda McGee

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 Brush Set
2 Designer's Choice Item

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

Layout by Durin Eberhart using March's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Durin Eberhart and Theresa Kavouras

Alert! Alert! TODAY is the last day you can sign up for the ScrapSimple Club and still get this great group of products at this amazing price. Don't delay... sign up now!

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!

How To Create A Double Spread Layout

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

ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 Mini Clusters was designed with continuity and flow in mind. What that means is that it's easy to adapt these templates for use with a double-spread layout. Follow along as I show you just how quickly and easily this can be done.

You will see that there are five sets of pages that share similar features (e.g., arrows, parentheses, frame size, and shape, etc.). Choose any two of these sets as the basis of your layout. I have chosen Mini Clusters 7 and 8.

Open a new 24x12-inch document in your photo editing software program and place all the layers of your first template on the left side of your layout. Repeat the process by placing your second template on the right side. I decided to rotate the right template to provide more balance to the overall look of my layout.

Next, I wanted something to ground the clusters on my layout while drawing the viewer's eyes across my double-page spread. A four-inch border on either the top, bottom, or middle of the layout worked nicely. I added a new layer above the bottom background layer in my Layers Palette. To do this, I used the Rectangular Marquee Tool to draw a four-inch rectangle that extended across the entire length of my layout. I filled the rectangle with a gray color.

Now I had a border, but it was hidden on the right side of my layout. No problem. Again, using the Rectangular Marquee Tool, I made a 12x12-inch square on the right side of my layout. Next, I right-clicked (Ctrl+click) inside the square, chose the "Layer Via Copy" selection from the drop-down menu, and Enter (Return). I now had a 12-inch border for the right side of my layout on its own layer.

While on the Copy Layer, I did Ctrl+click (Cmd+click for Mac) on the thumbprint. "Marching ants" surrounded my selection. Next, I highlighted the original border layer and clicked Delete. Now I had a 12-inch-wide border for the left side of my layout and another 12-inch-wide border for the right side of my layout - each on its own layer. Before I moved the copied layer up to its proper position in the Layers Palette, I linked the two layers together and nudged them up a bit. I felt like the layout would look too heavy if the border was on the bottom edge.

I also wanted to increase the size of everything while decreasing the amount of white space. By linking together all the layers (except the background and borders) and using the Free Transform Tool, I resized the frames, photos, and circles in one easy step. (Be careful to hold down the Shift key while resizing to maintain the proper proportions.)

I had no need for two titles and I only wanted one block of journaling, so I hid the visibility of the title and journaling blocks on the right side of my layout. I can move and increase the width of the journaling block and, because the digital layout templates have a text block provided, that change will be easy to make in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements by moving the horizontal handle on the text box.

Now I've made a great double-spread digital layout template and I'm ready to start placing my papers, photos, and embellishments. (Remember to save this document so you have it for future layouts!)

Don't be hesitant to play with the templates. Use the circles as actual embellishments themselves or get creative and use a circle brush or element in their place. Just turn off the visibility of that layer so you won't see the circle. I designed the circle clusters with a dual purpose in mind. You can use them in the literal sense or just as a guide to embellishment placement and size.

Want more help on using templates? Don't miss the video tutorials in MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed which includes step-by-step instructions for layout templates like the one featured in this tutorial, as well as how to use paper templates, photo templates, and embellishment templates!

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Layout by Kim Meeder
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 Mini Clusters, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Sketch It 2 and Brush Set: Round About are also available.

Tutorial written by Kim Meeder

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:

Scrap Girls 2009 Digital Scrap Link Class:
Let There Be Light

Follow Laurel, Scrap Girls' Layout Artist Coordinator, along as she teaches you the basics of light in your photography. You'll learn about the different types of lighting, about reflectors (including frugal ideas), and secrets on how to photograph small items or embellishments.

ReMix: (Digital Scrapbooking) From Ordinary to Extraordinary! eBook

Have you ever wanted to get a makeover - A layout makeover? Do you ever wonder how someone might decide to make certain changes and why? In ReMix: (Digital Scrapbooking) From Ordinary to Extraordinary! eBook, you have the opportunity to virtually "look over the shoulder" during the remake process.

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set
2009 - 4th 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 4th Quarter of 2009 in one convenient PDF format.

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: How to Combine ScrapSimple Paper & Photo 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 Jan Hicks
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Designer Freebie by Jan Hicks coordinates with her Edge Decor Embellishment Mini - Artsy

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Artsy - Watercolor 1 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, April 14th - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) each Wednesday at 10am MT for the East Coast High Noon Crop. All coasts and time zones are welcome! 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 April 14th, we'll have a Single Photo Challenge. Create a layout using a single, large, wonderful photo! Upload your layouts to the special High Noon Crop Gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

ScrapSimple Club Chat
Wednesday, April 14th - 1:00PM MT

We know everyone is excited for the new ScrapSimple Club to be released on April 15th. Come join Sherry_Lynn and March's ScrapSimple Club designers Durin Eberhart (Durin) & Theresa Kavouras (Wxchic) on April 14th at 1pm MT for this month's ScrapSimple Club Chat/Crop! We'll discuss ideas on different ways to use the current club. As a challenge, let's create one more layout using March's ScrapSimple Club before the next one arrives. It's sure to be a blast! Hope to see you there!

Heritage Crop
Thursday, April 15th - 6:00PM MT

Do you have boxes of heritage photos just waiting to be restored and scrapped? Are there family stories just waiting for you to write down and preserve? Then this is the crop for you! Join April (April Showers) and Carla (CRS) at 6pm MT for the Heritage Crop and Chat! We'll help you get motivated to scrap those heritage photos and record your family stories for future generations to enjoy.

What's New Chat
Friday, April 16th - 9:00AM MT

Join Michelle (Shelbi) and 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! There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat, too!

Back-Up Party and Chat
Friday, April 16th - 8:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April Showers in the chat room on Friday, April 16th at 8pm MT 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!

Scraplift Challenge Chat
Sunday, April 18th - 2:00PM MT

Scraplifting can be a wonderful starting point for your layouts! Join Becca on Sunday, April 18th at 2pm MT to learn more about scraplifting, the importance of giving credit, and more! A few hours before the chat, I will post the name and gallery link to a Scrap Girls Layout Artist Team member, and you can choose one of their layouts for inspiration! Hope you'll join us!

U.F.O. Chat
Sunday, April 18th - 6:00PM MT

Please join Sherry_Lynn and special guest co-hostess Janine (J9Buckles) from our Layout Artist Team on Sunday, April 18th. Let's complete or revamp some of those layouts that are sitting in your "Layouts to be Completed" folder. Post your unfinished layout in the UFO Gallery and meet us in the chat room at 4pm MT to get some inspirational suggestions from our incredible professionals here at Scrap Girls!

Leavin' Love Chat
Monday, April 19th - 4:30PM MT

Please join Sherry (Sherry_Lynn) on Monday, April 19th for a Leavin' Love Chat at 4:30pm MT! One of the greatest things about Scrap Girls is the generosity of our members... don't you agree? This goes for the Layout Gallery, too! Everyone likes to see a little "love" in the form of comments on a newly uploaded layout, so let's give it our all today and bombard the gallery with some purple fuzzies!

Coffee Break Chat
Tuesday, April 20th - 5:00AM MT

If reading the Scrap Girls Newsletter and having a cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea first thing in the morning is a part of your daily routine, join Sherry (Sherry_Lynn) on Tuesday, April 20th at 5am MT for this month's Coffee Break Chat. We'll chat over the latest issue of the Newsletter AND create a challenge based on it! Hope to see you there!

New Member Chat - Early Edition
Tuesday, April 20th - 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.

APRIL EVENTS

April Message Board Game: Progressive Word Scramble!

The object of the game is to correctly guess the name of a product in the Scrap Girls Boutique by solving clues and unscrambling letters we give you. Each day, you will be given a letter found in the product name as well as a clue. You won't know how many letters are in the product name until it is complete. We will keep giving clues until a correct guess is made.

The designer's name or the word "Collection" are not included as part of the puzzle. Letters from any other words in product names (such as "Biggie," "Brush" or "Transparency") may be given as part of the puzzle.

Be the first to answer it correctly and win a $5.00 Gift Certificate to the Boutique! You are only allowed ONE guess per daily clue, and you are only allowed ONE win per month. When you make your guess, you MUST provide a link to the boutique item you are referencing. We will play the game daily during the entire month of April. When a correct answer is given, the new puzzle will start the following day.

For complete details and examples of game play, visit the "Games" folder on the Scrap Girls message board.

Layout Contests:

April Monthly Layout Contest: It's time to get your silly on! For this month's layout contest, we want to see layouts featuring the silly or mischievous antics in your life. Let us see the silly faces, crazy clothes and hilarious moments. Create your layout and post it in the April Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight on April 30th. 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!