Rozanne Paxman

Take a Walk with a Turtle

Photo by turtlemom4bacon on Flickr.com

Take a walk with a turtle

Slow down and let him set the pace

Take a walk with a turtle

Life seems better when it isn't a race

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 Angie Briggs using July's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Angie Briggs

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 Kerry Veale using July's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Amanda McGee and Kerry Veale

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!

Scrap Girls is announcing its vacation plans... STAYCATION! The whole team is going to have a STAYcation this year, and we want you to STAYcation with us. Our Product Designers are having a STAYcation, too, and as a change from slaving away making beautiful digital scrapbooking supplies for you to scrap with, they're hosting chats all week! Trust us, you do NOT want to miss these chats. Our designers get out so rarely - this is a real treat!

We've got a schedule full of chats that our Product Designers and Welcoming Committee are hosting, plus our STAYcation Sale, games, freebies, contests, prizes and fun! Come join our family on our STAYcation!

STAYcation Message Board Game

Have you ever tried to win one of those radio contests where you had to call in by a certain time if they called your name and then not heard it when it was called? Now's your chance to play it on the Scrap Girls Message board during STAYcation (July 27th - July 31st)!

Here is all you have to do... Make sure you have logged into the message board in the last year to be eligible to be called. Subscribe to the game thread, directions will be included in the thread on how to do this and then if your name is called, reply in the same game thread in the allotted time and you will win! How will we choose the members to call? We will use a random number generator based on our membership numbers. Log in and come play!

STAYcation Chat Schedule

Wednesday, July 28: Ice Cream Social

10:00AM MT - East Coast High Noon Crop
Join April (April Showers) 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 July 28th, we'll do a Nature Challenge! Create a layout that shows nature in some way. Could be flowers, wildlife, camping - anything that highlights nature. 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!


1:00PM MT - Ice Cream Social
You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! Join Kim Meeder (kimmybutton) and Keri Schueller (Keri S) for our annual Staycation Ice Cream Social in the chat room on Wednesday, July 28th at 1 pm MT! We'll be chatting, playing some games, giving out some prizes and doing a layout based on your favorite ice cream flavors.


7:00PM MT - Post Card Swap Chat
I love to receive post cards from family and friends when they go on vacation! But how about sending post cards from your hometown? Have you ever thought about making your own? Join Carla (CRS) on Wednesday at 7pm MT and come learn some tips on making your own cards and all about the swap!


8:00PM MT - ScrapSimple - Use It! Chat
Strengthening your abilities in scrapbooking is essential to becoming a better scrapbooker and learning to utilize the ScrapSimple product line available here at Scrap Girls will give you so many more unique and fun options with your layouts! Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Elisha (elibar) for this monthly chat on Wednesday, July 28th at 8pm MT as we talk about how to use these versatile products!

Thursday, July 29: Camping

11:00AM MT - Camping with Katherine and Cherise
Join Katherine (KatherineW) and Cherise (cherise) at 11 am MT for a "sit around the fire, roastin' smores and swapping stories" kind of camping chat. We will play a couple of games and just have fun. You know, the things we do best at Scrap Girls. Don't forget your bug spray!


2:00PM MT - NSBR Chat - Early Edition
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 Pat (PBarnes) at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!


5:00PM MT - Desktop Challenge Crop
Tired of the boring desktop wallpaper backgrounds that your PC or MAC came with? Join Becca and Angela (angelaNussbaum) on on July 29th at 5pm MT for this month's Desktop Challenge Crop. We'll show you how to use your digital scrapbooking supplies to create a personalized desktop wallpaper of your own. Stay tuned for the challenge! We will post it the day of the chat!


7:00PM MT - Speed Scrap Crop
Ever wonder what you can get done when time is tight? Here is your chance to find out! Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Carla (CRS) for a Speed Scrap Crop! We'll give you six items, spread out over an hour, for you to include on your layout. It's a challenge that is also a lot of fun! We'll see you in the chat room on Thursday, July 29th at 7pm MT!

Friday, July 30: Picnic

9:00AM MT - What's New Chat
Join April (April Showers) 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!


12:00Noon MT - Picnic Chat
Picnics are more than just eating sandwiches on a blanket - it's about gathering together to enjoy the season. Come join Ariadna (scrapariadna) and Cheré (cherekaye) to chat about all the things of the season and the fun that is STAYcation at Scrap Girls! We can't wait to see you there.

Saturday, July 31: Luau

12:00Noon MT - Luau Lunch Chat
Throw on your best Hawaiian shirt and put a flower in your hair and come ready to hear "Aloha e komo mai!" as we chat and challenge in the Staycation Luau Lunch at Noon MT on Saturday, July 31st. Join Brandy Murry (BrandyM) and Ang Campbell (AngRoCamp) for an hour of hula dancing, ukulele playing, PRIZES and fun galore. Aloha!


6:00PM MT - Swap Crop Chat
It's time for the Swap Crop Chat! We've done the swapping and created the layouts, now it's time to chat about all the gorgeous layouts! I don't know what it is, but these swaps bring out the best in everyone. This is the time to chat about the theme, the beautiful layouts and learn about the swap crop if you haven't participated before. We'll brainstorm a theme for next month, too! Join us, Carla (CRS) and Angela (angelaNussbaum), for a fun chat at 6pm MT on Saturday, July 31st!

*Schedule is subject to change... keep an eye on the newsletter and message board for the latest STAYcation happenings!

Creating a Two-Page Layout using a ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS4 with Windows 7.

ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates are much more versatile than just a tool for creating a one-page digital scrapbooking layout! One of my favorite things to do with ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates is use them to create two-page layouts quickly and easily. I've chosen to use ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Photos All Around to demonstrate how easy it is to turn a one-page template into a two-page layout.

First, open the layered PSD file that is included with your ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template. Next, change the size of your canvas by selecting Image> Canvas Size and changing the specifics in the window that will open. Change the width of your canvas to 24 inches. Then, anchor the template to the center-right position of your canvas by clicking on the square in the center-right position of the diagram below the 24x12-inch dimensions.

Click OK, and you'll find that you now have a 24-inch canvas and that your template has stayed along the right edge of the canvas.

Next, activate the Move Tool and simply highlight the layers in your Layers Palette that represent the parts of the ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template that you'd like to shift to another part of the new 24x12 canvas. Do this by clicking on each layer while holding down the Ctrl button. When you're ready to move the highlighted parts to another area, you can hold the Shift button to keep the parts lined up and move them to the chosen space elsewhere on your two-page layout canvas.

Now you can work on your two-page layout as a cohesive canvas.

You may want to add a guide line onto the canvas at the 12-inch mark so you know exactly where the two pages will be split if you choose to separate your project into two pages again for printing. You can either place your mouse in the side ruler with the Move Tool activated and drag toward the center of your canvas, lining the guideline up with the 12-inch mark on your canvas, or you can add a guide line by selecting View> New Guide and then specifying where you want the guideline placed (vertical, 12 inches).

When your two-page layout is complete and you're ready to print, you can use the Selection Tool, Cropping Tool, or Canvas Size adjustment to create individual 12x12 pages.

Explore the flexibility of ScrapSimple Templates, plus 50 other digital scrapbooking topics, in Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed and MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed. Drop by the Scrap Girls Boutique now!

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Layout by Ang Campbell
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Photos All Around, Rough and Tumble Collection, Well Loved Collection Biggie, Urban Love Collection Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Background Blenders - Masks are also available.

Tutorial written by Ang Campbell

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: Tips and Tricks to Make Quick Albums Fast!

Have you ever received an email offer for a really great deal on a 20-page album? But then you sit at your computer and get overwhelmed. This eBook will cover some great tips and tricks to help you pull it off in a snap! Included with your purchase, you will receive a special digital layout template set of three layouts in both 8.5x11 and 12x12 size, with which you can practice the techniques taught in the eBook.

Artistry eBook by Marnie Adams

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.

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: Patterns, Blends & Filters, Oh My!

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

STAYcation: Ice Cream Social Bonus Freebie!

Layout by Cherise Oleson
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Designer Freebie by Cherise Oleson coordinates with her Ice Cream Social Collection Mini

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Stitch 'n Holes 8301 Machine Stitch Mini are also available.

Layout by Valerie Randall
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Designer Freebie by Valerie Randall coordinates with her DaBaum Collection Mini

Commercial license versions of Fly High Collection, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Leaves 2101 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Alloys 6401 Super Biggie 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, July 28th - 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 July 28th, we'll do a Nature Challenge! Create a layout that shows nature in some way. Could be flowers, wildlife, camping - anything that highlights nature. 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!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, July 29th - 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 Pat (PBarnes) at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

Desktop Challenge Chat
Thursday, July 29th - 5:00PM MT

Tired of the boring desktop wallpaper backgrounds that your PC or MAC came with? Join Becca and Angela (angelaNussbaum) on on July 29th at 5pm MT for this month's Desktop Challenge Crop. We'll show you how to use your digital scrapbooking supplies to create a personalized desktop wallpaper of your own. Stay tuned for the challenge! We will post it the day of the chat!

Speed Scrap Crop
Thursday, July 29th - 7:00PM MT

Ever wonder what you can get done when time is tight? Here is your chance to find out! Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Carla (CRS) for a Speed Scrap Crop! We'll give you six items, spread out over an hour, for you to include on your layout. It's a challenge that is also a lot of fun! We'll see you in the chat room on Thursday, July 29th at 7pm MT!

What's New Chat
Friday, July 30th - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) 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!

Swap Crop Chat
Saturday, July 31st - 6:00PM MT

It's time for the Swap Crop Chat! We've done the swapping and created the layouts, now it's time to chat about all the gorgeous layouts! I don't know what it is, but these swaps bring out the best in everyone. This is the time to chat about the theme, the beautiful layouts and learn about the swap crop if you haven't participated before. We'll brainstorm a theme for next month, too! Join us, Carla (CRS) and Angela (angelaNussbaum), for a fun chat at 6pm MT on Saturday, July 31st!

JULY EVENTS

July Message Board Game: BINGO!

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

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

Layout Contests:

July Monthly Layout Contest: Most all countries have a national holiday. The time of the year varies across our wide world but the United States just happens to celebrate Independence Day in July. For this month's layout contest, we want you to create a layout showing us something about what you do to celebrate your nation or show your patriotism. Post your layouts in the July Gallery before Midnight MT on July 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!