Rozanne Paxman

Room for Love

Close your eyes. Imagine there is a big ball in your chest. Feel it draw together from every pore and limb in your body until it is a solid, round thing. It may end up being the size of a baseball. It may be as big as a basketball. But feel it, sense it, and see it in your chest.

Now that you have it, you have two options: You can keep it there, heavy and firm, refusing to release it by holding onto it tightly.

Or you can let it go. You can see yourself throwing it far away. You can see yourself toss it on the ground and stomp on it until it explodes. You choose the method of removal, but you choose to let it go.

If you are able to let it go, you can then consider what is left. You will find that you are clear inside. You are open. You can learn who you are and discover what you are to do. You can feel love, hear the voice of God, feel forgiveness, and even find the forgiveness you have been seeking.

The weight you have been carrying is gone.

Whenever we find ourselves locked in the past – buried in hate, anger, defensiveness, in regret, we have two choices: Hold onto these feelings tightly and refuse to let them go or choose to release them into nothingness.

If we are choosing to keep them with us, we must ask ourselves why we make the choice. Do we feel justified in holding onto anger? Do we feel that we must punish the person who angered us by holding onto these feelings? If so, who is being truly being hurt by this anger we are experiencing?

Perhaps there is something we have not forgiven ourselves for. We may feel that if we let the weight go, we will be unable to stop ourselves from repeating the mistake. We may feel that we do not deserve to have the weight lifted. We may feel that we must stay in a state of perpetual punishment.

If this is our choice, we must again ask ourselves, "Who is being hurt when I hold onto this pain?"

So I say, let's gather the pain, the hurt, the anger, the darkness from every pore in our body into a ball in our chests and throw it away. Let's allow it to dissipate and float away into nothingness where it can't hurt us or anyone else ever again. Let's use the power of the imagination we have been blessed with to do this. Our minds and hearts cannot tell the difference between a real and imagined event, so we can use this capacity to remove pain instead of grasping it.

Once the ball is gone from your chest, imagine power, peace, and good filling the space that is left behind. Imagine light streaming into you, through you, and out of you. Feel the warmth as the glow spreads through every pore in your body.

You may need to repeat this exercise until the ball you are trying to rid yourself of disappears forever. Use the power of prayer to help you. But the ball – whatever it's comprised of – will go away, and when it does, you will finally have room for love.

- 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 Armi Custodio using June's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Syndee Nuckles

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!

QUESTION: I purchased the ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates, and I have Photoshop Elements 7 (PSE) with Vista. I have been unable to open the folder. PSE tells me it cannot open files with extension .DS_store. How do I open the file? Any help would be appreciated.

ANSWER: Hi! The .DS_store file isn't actually part of the download. It's a file that is made for Macs, but isn't necessary for a PC. Go ahead and delete it, because it's of no use to you, unless you intend to get a Mac at some point.

ANSWER: That's 100% correct! We do try hard to make sure these don't show up in our files, but sometimes, one gets in there somehow. But you can delete it or just leave it there.

If anyone is interested in learning about these types of files, there is info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.DS_Store

QUESTION: Hi, I am out of sorts trying to figure out how to place paper or a photo onto template files in Paint Shop Pro X1 so that they go exactly in place without having to "finagle" for hours trying to place the paper or whatever onto the template. I've read Dee's PSP template for mask, but that's not exactly the same, I don't think - right? I can't seem to figure it out. Also, I would like to know what is the purpose of the "Clear Clipboard" command? Thanks in advance for your help! I need step-by-step directions.

ANSWER: Hi, I'll see if I can help you out here. It might help if you'd tell us exactly what templates you are using. For now, I'm supposing you have a template with lots of PNG files which are varying shades of black, gray, and white. And yes, I agree, it is sometimes frustrating to get all those layers with PNG files lined up correctly. (You know they don't have to be exact, don't you?)

However, there is an easier way to go. Most designers also include a PSD file which has all the layers in all their proper places (unlike the separate PNG files which will end up all being centered when you add them to your document). PSP is capable of opening the PSD files! Once it's opened, you can then work with it and save it either as a .pspimage file, or a .psd file.

Another option is to use a PSP script Dee Decker has developed just for this purpose. And the best part is that it's free! Go to the Boutique and click on the Freebies, and there should be two at the bottom - one for rectangles and one for squares.

If you already have the template PNG files lined up as you like them and are just having trouble getting the paper and/or photos into the proper places, that is another process. You need to copy the paper and/or photo you are using and place it as a new layer "above" the layer you want it on. Then there are several methods to "clip" it to the shape of the PNG file. I usually use the Magic Wand Tool.

With the paper/photo in the layer above, turn off the visibility of the paper. Then, making sure the PNG file of the template is the active layer, select all of it with the Magic Wand Tool. Go to your paper/photo layer, make it the active layer, and click on the eye, making it visible. Go to "Selections," click on "Invert" and then hit Delete. The paper/photo should now be the shape of the PNG file underneath. You can delete the PNG file.

Let us know if this helps. Don't want you to be out of sorts!

ANSWER: Use the PSD files if they come with what you are using. If it's an older file that does not have PSD files then bring up the picture of how the template should be and then carefully put it into place using the Move Tool each time.

RESPONSE: Thanks for your suggestions. I failed to mention that I just discovered I'm able to use the PSD files. They line up in Layers Palette! How great is that?! I truly am grateful for your help. Thanks again!

P.S. Would someone tell me why one must "clear the clipboard?" Is there a book I can pick up that is PSP for Dummies?!

ANSWER: Ro has one - Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed: Paint Shop Pro (PSP) X in the Boutique specifically for PSPX, which will work for any PSP X series. I used PSP for years for web graphics and such, but never realized how useful it would be for digital scrapping until I got these videos. Very worth having!

And always, if you have a question, just ask here. We'll do all we can to help you over a hurdle! And usually, we learn something ourselves in the process!

ANSWER: When you copy layers, they pile up on the clipboard, using up your memory. Clearing the clipboard periodically helps free up that space (and for me, helped me not crash sometimes.)

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: Combining ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates

Learn how you can combine ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates to create your own unique layout template written by Angie Briggs. You will get step by step instructions, with screen shots to follow and several sample layouts giving you even more ideas. You'll also receive ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 Album Series 7, so that you may easily follow along with the instructions.

Scrapbooking 911 - 20 Sketches to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking eBook

Are your creative juices drained? Need help finding ideas? Want a great starting place? Scrapbooking 911 - 20 Sketches to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking is the answer to all of these questions. With twenty original sketches to work from, you'll be creating exciting, dynamic, and creative layouts 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

Step by Step Movie Tutorial: How to Create An Old Wall Mural

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 Julie White
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Designer Freebie by Julie White coordinates with her Brush Set: Glow

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Stacked Photos 6503 PSE and PS Mini 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

New Member Chat
Tuesday, June 8th - 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.

Baby Album Chat
Tuesday, June 8th - 8:00PM MT

Do you need some motivation getting those baby albums done? Children grow so fast; Let's get those baby memories scrapped! You can scrap your children, grandchildren or even your own baby album. Join Carla (CRS) and Shari (Shari PV Mom) in the chat room on Tuesday, June 8th at 8pm MT to work on those albums! You can start from fresh on a brand new album, or jump in where ever you are in your project. We'll provide an optional challenge each crop for motivation if you want one. For this month's challenge, let's scrap about Dad and baby!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, June 9th - 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 June 9th, we'll be doing a Brush Challenge. Try to use at least two brushes in your layout. Create your layout and upload it 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!

ATC Swap Crop
Wednesday, June 9th - 4:30PM MT

Please join Sherry Lynn and Elisha (elibar) in the chatroom for our June ATC (Artist Trading Card) Swap Crop/Chat on Wednesday, June 9th at 4:30pm MT. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

Sketch Challenge Chat
Thursday, June 10th - 7:00PM MT

Join Marnie (sprinklz) for the Sketch Challenge and Crop on Thursday, June 10th 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, June 11th - 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!

Quote Challenge Chat
Sunday, June 13th - 2:00PM MT

Come join Pat (PBarnes) for the Quote Challenge Crop at 2pm MT. Including a quote on your layout can be a touching and meaningful addition, especially if you use the quote to create your own word art. On Sunday, Pat will post a thread on the Chat section of the board giving you the quote that you will use to make your own word art. It's not hard, and she will have a layout with a Word Art example in the gallery. Then we'll meet in the chat room to have fun, chat, and create our Word Art layout! Everyone can participate and create a layout, even if you can't make the chat. Hope to see you there!

ScrapSimple Club Chat
Monday, June 14th - 2:00PM MT

We know everyone is excited for the new ScrapSimple Club to come out on June 15th. Come join Sherry Lynn on Monday, June 14th at 2pm 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 May's ScrapSimple Club before the next one arrives. It's sure to be a blast! Hope to see you there!

Photography Focus Club Chat
Monday, June 14th - 7:00PM MT

Join Mary Elizabeth O’Toole (NS_Scrapper) and special guests for a monthly conversation about photography on the second Monday of each month. Do you want to challenge yourself and improve your photography? Check out the Scrap Girls Photo Focus Club. No membership required - Everyone is welcome. Note that this is not a class but an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and try something new. If you are looking for tips, techniques or inspiration to help you take better images, this is the chat for you.

New Member Chat - Early Edition
Tuesday, June 15th - 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.

JUNE EVENTS

June Message Board Game: Quotable Quotes

The object of the game is to correctly guess the layout (created by either a product designer or layout artist) that contains a quote or journaling. Each day, you will be given a word found in the clue. We will keep giving words to the clues until a correct guess is made.

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 link it to the correct layout in the Boutique. We will play the game daily during the entire month of June. When a correct answer is given, the new puzzle will start the following day.

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

Layout Contests:

June Monthly Layout Contest: June is National Candy Month and who doesn't like candy!? For this month's layout contest, use the wrapper of your favorite candy for inspiration. Does your favorite candy have a great color combination, cool fonts or a fun striped pattern? Use whatever inspires you about it to create your layout. You don't have to include the candy's wrapper in your layout but you might mention it in your description. Create your layout and post it in the June Layout Contest Gallery by Midnight MT on June 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!