Rozanne Paxman

Peace is a Gift

Peace is a gift from God. It settles on a soul like a gentle dove that has found safety in the green leaves of a strong tree.

It comes to those who seek.

It stays with those who trust.

It leaves when spinning minds say, "But what about this? And that? And why? I don't think I can."

Peace speaks softly. "Do this. And that. And something else. And once you are finished, you'll learn more."

Have faith in peace. Put your feet on the path it points to and step into quiet revelation. Follow where it leads you with thankfulness.

Still your mind. Breathe in and out. Reach up with your heart. Hope and feel... peace.

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 Ariadna Wiczling using September's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Erica Hite

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 Kim Meeder using September's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Kim Meeder and Amanda Sok

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!

Adding Color to ScrapSimple Paper Templates

Note: Tutorial created using Photoshop CS5 with Windows 7.

People often ask on the Message Board for easy ways to colorize ScrapSimple Paper Templates. There are different types of paper templates. In my ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Unique Roses Biggie, I have combined a few of these types, and I am going to show you some creative ways to use them.

The first type of template is the plain grayscale paper template in JPG format like this one.

Place the paper template on a blank 12x12-inch canvas and create a new blank layer on top. Fill with the color of your choice using the Paint Bucket Tool. Then, change the Blending Mode of this layer to "Multiply." For my taste, this doesn't look realistic enough, and the texture is not very visible. Therefore, I suggest adding the following step.

Duplicate the layer with the template and drag it on top. Change the Blending Mode of this layer to "Soft Light." This adds some pep to the color which looked rather dull before.

Here is how the layers should be arranged. This technique works really well for me, plus it's quick and easy.

The second kind of paper template is the one with different shades of gray in PNG format.

Place the template on a new, blank 12x12-inch canvas. Use the Magic Wand Tool to select one shade of gray.

Create a new blank layer on top and with your Foreground Color set to the color of your choice, click Alt+Delete to fill in the selection. Repeat this step for each shade of gray.

Turn off the visibility of the paper template. Now you can add styles to the different layers, add a background color, or add some other paper templates. But let's get a bit creative.

Add a colorized layer at the bottom and create a blank layer on top of the red roses. Using the Gradient Tool set to "Radial," add little circles in a lighter color than the roses.

Repeat this step on a blank layer that you create on top of the green leaves.

Now you need to clip the gradient layers to either the roses or the leaves using Ctrl+Alt+G in Photoshop (Ctrl+G in Photoshop Elements). You can duplicate the layers with the gradient for a better result.

Here is an overview of the layer order of my sample.

Save this PSD file for future use or if you want to make changes at a later time. Save it as a JPG and use it with a grayscale paper template as shown in the first sample in replacement of the colorized layer. Here, I used the cardstock paper of my ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Texture Classics.

Here is the overview of the layers. You can see that I duplicated the layer with the rose pattern, moved it on top, and changed the Blending Mode to "Soft Light."

Now it's up to you to make the most of your ScrapSimple Paper Templates. Get creative with all the tools that your digital scrapbooking software has to offer and have fun!

Explore the secrets used by our professional designers and layout artists to make amazing digital scrapbooking layouts! Check out the incredible tutorials in Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed and MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

Layout by Caroline Kaiser
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Unique Roses Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Texture Classics, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Packaging and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Background Blenders are also available.

Tutorial written by Caroline Kaiser

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. In this class, you will learn some tricks of combining 2, 3 (or even more) layout templates and templates of all sizes to create your own unique digital layout template.

Word Play: Creative Text Techniques eBook

Would you like to take your layouts up a notch? Can you imagine your boring old title transformed into an impressive visual element on your page? This digital scrapbooking ebook will show you how!

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 Make a Birthday Scrapbook Page

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 Kim Meeder
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Designer Freebie by Kim Meeder coordinates with her ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Messy Mix - Borders,
part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Euphoria, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Glitter Edge 6302 Biggie and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Love Always 3 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

What's New in the Boutique Chat
Friday, September 24th - 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, September 25th - 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 Carla (CRS) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) for a fun chat at 6pm MT on Saturday, September 25th!

Desktop Challenge Crop
Monday, September 27th - 5:00PM MT

Tired of the boring desktop wallpaper backgrounds that your PC or MAC came with? Join Becca and Angela (angelaNussbaum) on September 27th 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!

Emphasis on Embellishments Chat
Monday, September 27th - 7:00PM MT

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Janine (J9Buckles) on Monday at 7pm MT for the Emphasis on Embellishments Chat. This monthly chat is geared towards challenging you to use more elements/embellishments on your layouts. Each month, you will be given a specific number challenge to inspire you to start using more elements on your page or to create your own cluster of embellishments! You will be amazed at what YOU can do at this chat!

Hybrid ATC Chat
Tuesday, September 28th - 5:00PM MT

We have patiently (and some not-so-patiently) waited for Mr. Postman to bring our hybrid ATC's to our doorstep, now is the time to chat about it! Join Shannon (tinkerbell11) and Lei (Bride) as we host the chat for the "Fall Changes/Transitions" hybrid ATC swap. Hope to see you there!

New Member Chat
Tuesday, September 28th - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) 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.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 29th - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) each Wednesday at 12 Noon Eastern Time 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 September 29th, we'll do a Circle Challenge! Create a layout using at least one circle. Anything goes! You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

Speed Scrap Crop
Thursday, September 30th - 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, September 30th at 7pm MT!

What's New in the Boutique Chat
Friday, October 1st - 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!

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

September Message Board Game: Simplify September!

It's time to kick off a new season and the upcoming holidays with fun and focus on scrapbooking! And a few prizes thrown in never hurt, right? Join us on the message board this month for "Simplify September!" This Message Board game and challenge is meant to help you get those photos out of your camera and get started on your holiday cards, 2011 Calendars and focus on taking time to scrapbook regularly, despite the little speedbumps of life. When the month is over, you'll have completed several projects and have been challenged along the way.

A member of the Welcoming Committee will post a task every day from September 1st - 30th in the game thread. Don't let the idea of daily tasks intimidate you. When we say "mini," we mean it. Our goal isn't simply to keep you busy, but to direct your focus through baby-step tasks that will lead you to completed projects. Some tasks will require Message Board participation, email responses or Gallery posting. Read each daily task carefully to see what is required of you. (If nothing is specified, then it is an "on your honor" task, and we'll trust that you did as required - tasks will often build upon one another, and we'll see in later tasks that you completed earlier ones.)

PRIZES: Those who complete all tasks and submit or post required participation by 11:59pm MT on September 30th will be entered in a drawing to win one of three $10 Gift Certificates to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Those who complete just the layouts will be entered in a separate drawing to win one of three $5 Gift Certificates. (Those who complete all tasks will have their name entered in both drawings!)

Winners will be announced in the Newsletter on Saturday, October 9th.

For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls Message Board.

Layout Contests:

September Monthly Layout Contest: You may not think about it often, but you do make a positive impact on those around you. For the September contest, we want you to scrap a layout about something you have done that made a positive impact on someone else. It might be in your role as a parent, a friend, a teacher, or a team member in sports or at work. Post your layouts in the September Gallery before Midnight MT on September 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!