Rozanne Paxman

Whack! Bend A Few Nails

Everyone bends a few nails when they are whacking away at their goals. It's not the failure to succeed on each attempt that matters. It's the failure to try again.

My first few jobs didn't go very well. When I was 14, I was hired to clean motel rooms. Although I quickly became known for my ability to clean bathrooms spotlessly, I hated the work, and I quit after two weeks. I never received the pay for my work because I assumed that you don't get paid if you quit a job, and the owner of the business didn't send it to me.

My next venture into the job market was as a typist for a music store. Since I am musical, I thought I would be successful in my new career. However, I struggled with the typewriter I was assigned to use and made many mistakes. This made my supervisor unhappy. Her unhappiness made me unhappy, and so I quit. Because I still was under the impression that a quitter isn't paid for time spent, I didn't receive money for my efforts at the music store. I didn't ask for it, and they didn't offer.

After I married, I was hired as a typist once more. This time I stayed long enough to receive pay. I discovered that I truly didn't like being a typist because I found myself typing the same names on endless stacks of paper for eight hours a day. After three months of boredom, I quit and looked for a better opportunity.

I believed I had found it in banking. Tellers seemed sophisticated to me. They dressed sharp and handled money. I wanted to become a teller.

Unfortunately, I was not assigned teller duties. Instead, I found myself doing two things: Filing checks into small boxes and shredding documents into large, white piles of confetti. Fortunately, Gary and I decided to move to the other end of the state, and I had a reasonable excuse to quit.

Once we had relocated, I decided to give banking another try. This time I actually became a teller. Sophistication was on the way....

I was surprised to learn that as a teller, not only was I not considered sophisticated by the other people in our office, the men in the building (this was in another age) considered tellers as dim-witted women who didn't need adequate pay because they were just working for "pin money."

What?

Because the pay was so poor, I decided to teach music lessons after work to supplement my income. Someone found out I was teaching music lessons. Someone told management that I had embarked on a new career, and before long, I was disciplined by the president of the bank for my extracurricular activities.

I quit again.

My experiences with these unsatisfying jobs taught me that the time had arrived to complete the college degree that had been haunting my dreams all of my life. I went back to school and after a number of starts and stops, I emerged with a Bachelor of Music Education degree clasped tightly in my hands.

Whack! Whack! Bend a few nails. Pound a few more. Try. Find that nail didn't work for you. Take a different nail out of the tool chest and use it instead. Pound it in carefully. Try again... and again.... Whack! Bend the nail over. Straighten it up. Tap the nail back in....

Life is a series of trials and errors. It isn't important that you err when trying something new. But it is critical to your ultimate level of joy that you keep trying.

- Ro

Layout by 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 Valerie Randall using May'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 Template
1 Brush Set
2 Designer's Choice Item

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

Layout by Brandy Murry using May's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Brandy Murry and Paula Wright

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!

Music and Bands

My husband has been in a band for years, and I realized I had never created a single layout about it. Well, I had to right that wrong immediately! I located all my photos of the band and then started thinking of what digital scrapbooking supplies I should use. Scrap Girls Boutique... here I come!

Here are several products in the Boutique that relate directly to bands, music, and rock-and-roll.

Rock and Roll Collection Biggie
Playlist Collection
Life Goes On Collection Biggie
Brush Set: Musical Instruments
Digital Stickers: Music - Percussion
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Life Goes On

Do you want to use musical notes and quotes in your band layouts? Search no more, here they are!

Brush Set: Music Quotes
Brush Set: Musical
Dynamic Brush Set: Musical Notes 5701 Biggie
Brush Set: Inked
ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Urban Living

Layout by Julie Moberly
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Commercial license versions of Dynamic Brush Set: Musical Notes 5701 Biggie and Lettering Delights Painter's Hand Font are also available.

The following products include musical elements that are perfect for layouts about band members, practices, or playing out:

Inked Collection Mini
Pink Ink Collection Mini
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Artful Photo Masks 2
Interlude Paper Mini
Julie White's Fab 5

Although the following products are not directly related to the band theme, their color palettes, embellishments, and styles can easily fit into any band layout!

Junk Love Collection Biggie
Biker Collection
Eternal Collection Mini
Kingdom Collection Biggie
Structures Paper
ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Op Art Rays
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Dripping Photo Masks

Now you have an abundance of product suggestions to help you create some rockin' band layouts!

Layout by Julie Moberly
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Artful Photo Masks 2 and ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics PSE 5001 are also available.

Article written by Julie Moberly

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:
Using Silhouettes in Scrapbooking

Learn to make and use silhouettes with Using Silhouettes in Scrapbooking written by Brandy Murry. Learn the history of Silhouettes, different ways to use them in scrapbooking as well as how to make a digital traditional style Silhouette using Photoshop programs.

Perfect Memories for Photoshop eBook

In her debut eBook Perfect Memories: Creative Solutions for Less-Than-Perfect Images, Katherine Weaver introduces her latest design-based secrets for overcoming the most common photo flaws, as well as additional ideas for getting your digital scrapbooking projects off and running in no time.

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 - 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 Valerie Randall
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Designer Freebie by Valerie Randall coordinates with her Inner View Frames,
part of this month's Scrap Girls Club offering!

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Type Paths: Shapes 2101 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

Coffee Break Chat
Tuesday, May 18th - 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 Lynn on Tuesday, May 18th 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, May 18th - 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.

Life Moments Crop
Tuesday, May 18th - 2:00PM MT

Please join Sherry Lynn on Tuesday, May 18th at 2pm MT for the next installment of our Life Moments Chat and Crop! These crops are about building a scrapbook all about you, one layout at a time.

Faith Journey Chat
Tuesday, May 18th - 5:00PM MT

Join Elisha (elibar) and Sherry Lynn for a Faith Journey Chat on Tuesday, May 18 at 5pm MT. All faiths are welcome! We'll be chatting and scrapping about our individual faith walk and how we also walk together. Watch the message board for this month's topic of discussion, and if you like - create a layout based on the topic!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, May 19th - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) on 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 May 19th, we'll do a "three photo" challenge. Create a layout using three photos, no more, no less! 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!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, May 20th - 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!

Heritage Crop
Thursday, May 20th - 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.

Ad Inspiration Chat
Thursday, May 20th - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes) at 7pm MT for an Ad Inspiration Challenge and Chat. A few hours before the chat, a magazine ad will be posted on the message board to use as inspiration for a layout. You can use whatever you want to from the ad - the colors, the shapes, the composition. There are no wrong answers!

What's New Chat
Friday, May 21st - 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, May 21st - 8:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April Showers in the chat room on Friday, May 21st 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!

MAY EVENTS

May Message Board Game: Geocaching - Scrap Girls Style!

There's no need for maps and compasses for this month's Geocaching trek! The object of the game is to correctly guess an item within a product in the Scrap Girls Boutique by solving clues and discovering the stars.

Each day, you will be given two clues: The first clue will be to the product (you will know you have found the correct product because there will be a star on the page.) The second clue will be to find a particular item within the product!

Send an email with the EXACT item name (within the product) and the link where the product is found to [email protected]. Use the subject line: Geocaching Scrap Girls Style in your email entry, and be sure to include your message board name and real name. Entries must be received by Midnight MT on May 31st.

Everyone who correctly identifies all 29 items will be entered into a random drawing for one $15 Gift Certificate!

Everyone who correctly identifies 19+ items will be entered into a random drawing for one of two $10 Gift Certificates!

Everyone who correctly identifies 9+ items will be entered into a random drawing for one of two $5 Gift Certificates!

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

Layout Contests:

May Monthly Layout Contest: Summer is right around the corner for some of us and winter for others. What is your favorite part of that season? For this month's layout contest, scrap your favorite parts of the upcoming season. Maybe you enjoy swimming in the pool, boating or hiking the trails. Or, maybe it's building a snowman, skiing or sledding. Whatever you love, scrap it for us to see! Create your layout and post it in the May Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight MT on May 31st. 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!