Rozanne Paxman

I Know Who Wins

I heard Ryan Seacrest say, "And now, Randy will give his second wildcard pick...."

Rushing into the room, I gasped, "You aren't watching American Idol without me, are you?"

He changed the channel to a basketball game and innocently looked at me. "Here," he said, handing me the remote control.

I sat on the couch and went into my DVR recordings to locate the proper episode of American Idol. I started it and quickly returned it to the beginning so that I wouldn't accidentally see what had happened.

He asked, "Did Jorge do well?"

I glared at him. "Do not tell me what happens."

"No, I'm just asking. Did he do well?"

"Stop it!" I said. "You always do this to me. I don't want to know what happens before I see it happening."

"Okay," he said, pretending to swat a bug. "But, what about that little girl... Lil?"

I gritted my teeth. "Gary, I told you to stop it. I want to see it happen myself."

"What?" he asked in the tone that indicates he is completely innocent. (Although, whenever he uses this particular tone of voice, he knows that he is admitting he is not innocent at all.) "I didn't say anything to you."

"You did, too. See where Lil is standing? The person that stands there always gets chosen first thing. She was so good; she has to be one of the winners." I stuffed a pillow behind my back in protest.

He sat and watched the television in silence. When he could no longer refrain himself, he said, "I know who wins."

I flipped my head around. "As in, you know who wins American Idol?"

"Yes," he said. "I know who wins."

"You do not."

"I do, too."

"You do not."

"Do."

"Not."

Exasperated, I sighed. "Honey, if you did know who wins American Idol this year, we could place a bet on it, win a gazillion dollars, and I could retire. But you don't know who wins because nobody knows who will win."

I stared at him. He stared at me. And then, he started to laugh. "You're so easy to tease," he winked. "That's why I love you so much."

So, I ask you, what on earth am I supposed to do with someone who loves to get me riled up like that?

Well, I'll tell you what I did. After I had acted properly horrified that I had been caught in his snare again, I kissed him.

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 Caroline Kaiser using December's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Caroline Kaiser

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 Erica Hite using November's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Erica Hite and Caroline Kaiser

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!

The Original

The layout I am choosing today to "do-over" is one of my first digital layouts from Christmas 2006. In this layout of my sister, Blain, the title is off-kilter, there is no story about the photo or my feelings about it, the photo is distorted, and color cast needs to be fixed.

Original layout by Brandy Murry

The Do-Over

I decided that for my do-over, I wanted to create a sketched Christmas tree behind the photo, so I used a tree from the Christmas Chronicles Collection and used ScrapSimple Tools – Styles: Freehand Coloring 8202 Biggie on it.

Next, I corrected the coloring of the photo with ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Photo Fix 2202. For a final adjustment, I added a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and desaturated the blues in the photo.

Next, I copied part of the photo using the Marquee Tool and right-clicked to choose "Layer via Copy."

I clipped the full photo to one of the masks in ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Background Blenders – Masks, changed it to black and white, then changed the Blending Mode of the mask to "Soft Light." I merged the photo and mask together, then duplicated this layer two times to have it show up in the background a bit more.

Finally, I added a shadow to the clipped part of the photo to have it stand out.

Once this was complete, I added a painting texture style to the cut-out photo, all my embellishments, a title that was in line with the layout, and a Christmas poem by Laura Ingalls Wilder that reminds me of my sister. (We used to love to watch Little House on the Prairie as kids.)

Now, this layout says "My Sister" much more than the original layout. It's personal, and when I look at it, it brings back the memories of her and the great spirit of Christmas.

Layout by Brandy Murry
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Commercial license versions of Scattered Gold Embellishments, Christmas Wonder Collection, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Freehand Coloring 8201 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Ragamuffin Glitter 8501, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Photo Fix 2202, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Painting Textures 8501, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Background Blenders - Masks and Brush Set: Swirlicious Biggie are also available.

Designer Do-Over by Brandy Murry

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:

30-33 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:

Scrapbook Quotes: The right quote for your scrapbook layouts

Looking for scrapbooking quotes or quotes to use for greeting cards? Here's your solution. This packed eBook contains hundreds of quotes, collected over many years by Rozanne Paxman specifically for use on scrapbooking layouts.

Inspirations eBook

What happens when you move digital scrapbooking beyond the basic page? What happens when you allow the layout to blur the edges between keepsake and art? Find your answers and take the next step in Inspirations: Celebrating Life's Joys With Digital Scrapbooking eBook. This eBook is meant to highlight the hopes and loves, the faith and joys, the simple days and big events that give our lives meaning and inspire us - and the pages we create about them. There are different layouts in a wide range of styles and techniques to be found in the book, and there are a multitude of ideas to be culled from the pages.

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set - 2010 1st 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 1st Quarter of 2010 in one convenient PDF format. It's easy to find those helpful hints with just the click of your mouse. You get two eBooks for the price of one!

Mastering Brushes for Photoshop

Whether you are just finding out about brushes, or have been using them for a while, this eBook will help you see and understand the creative power that brushes contain and give you new ideas for using them in your digital scrapbooking layouts.

See more titles

Surprise! Surprise! More Gifts Galore!
We have TWO designer freebies for you each day until Christmas Eve!

Layout by Amanda McGee
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Designer Freebie by Amanda McGee coordinates with her Jolly Elf Collection

Commercial license versions of AMC_Chalk Talk Font are also available.

Layout by Jacelen Deinema
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Designer Freebie by Jacelen Deinema coordinates with her Watercolor Hearth and Home Collection

* 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

ScrapSimple Club Chat
Tuesday, December 7th - 5:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) on Tuesday, December 7th at 5pm MT for a chat and challenge using this month's ScrapSimple Club. Did you know that every time you create a layout with the ScrapSimple Club and upload it into the ScrapSimple Club Gallery that you could be chosen to be featured in the Newsletter and receive a prize? Well, join us for the chat so we can encourage and inspire you and help with any questions that you may have. Let's get those ScrapSimple Club layouts done and uploaded!

Creative Cards Chat
Tuesday, December 7th - 6:00PM MT

Do you use your digital supplies to make cards? Do you want to? Instead of going to the store every time you need a card, you can save money and have fun making cards with your digi-stash! Make a note of any cards you might need for the upcoming month and join April (April Showers) and Theresa (tiza126) for the once-a-month Card Chat on Tuesday, December 7th at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, December 8th - 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 December 8th, we'll do a photo-manipulation challenge! Change a photo to sepia, cut out a background, use actions, play with filters, or just try something new with your photos! You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

Baby Theme Crop and Chat
Wednesday, December 8th - 7:00PM MT

Join Carla (CRS) and Thersea (tiza126) for a new twist on the Baby Theme Crop! This month we want to hear the stories and see the photos from the holidays! Any holiday, not just the winter holidays. You can scrap your own photos, your children's or grandchildren's, or nieces and nephews! We'll see you in the chat room on Wednesday, December 8th at 7pm MT!

Sketch Challenge Crop and Chat
Thursday, December 9th - 7:00PM MT

Join Marnie (sprinklz) for the Sketch Challenge and Crop on Thursday, December 9th 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 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 in the Scrap Girls Boutique Chat
Friday, December 10th - 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!

Hybrid Craft Chat
Friday, December 10th - 7:00PM MT

Come and join Carla (CRS) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the Chat Room at 7pm MT to learn how to combine your digital scrapbook supplies with paper supplies to create quick and easy holiday gifts. We will have four different project ideas to share. Hybrid crafts are a fun way to still play with glue, ribbons and glitter - oh my!

Calendar Chat
Saturday, December 11th - 6:00PM MT

Join Debbie (B&K Mom) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) for a Calendar Chat at 6pm MT. If you have questions on where to start, how to get organized, or just need motivation to work on your Calendars, be sure to join us!

Journaling Challenge Chat
Monday, December 13th - 6:00PM MT

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Lei (Bride) for a Journaling Chat at 6pm MT on Monday, December 13th. Struggle to find the right words for your layouts? Are your layouts more decorative than descriptive of the moments you're trying to capture? Then you won't want to miss this chat - we'll have a special challenge to encourage you to journal on your pages more! See you there!

New Member Chat
Tuesday, December 14th - 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.

DECEMBER EVENTS

A Sweet December Challenge!

During the month of December, all chats and challenges will be a little sweeter. Each time you attend a chat and post a layout for the chat's challenge or post a layout for a Message Board challenge, you will be entered into a weekly drawing for a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

To participate, upload a layout to the Message Board Gallery and post a link to your layout in the corresponding Message Board thread by Saturday at Midnight MT. Each week, the Welcoming Committee will compile all of the participating names and do a random drawing for the $10 Gift Certificate. That's right - ONE $10 Gift Certificate for EACH WEEK of December! Winners will be announced in the following Saturday's Newsletter.

December Message Board Game: BINGO!

Join us for an exciting game of Holiday BINGO on the Message Board Forum in December! Pick 25 words from the list provided and send them in an email to [email protected] with a subject line that says "BINGO CARD - your Scrap Girls Message Board username" by Friday, December 3rd (Midnight MST) in order to play in the first round. The first round will begin on Saturday, December 4th. If you miss the first round deadline, 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.

Each day, a member 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 game thread to win that round. After a winner is called, the boards will be cleared and a new round will begin the following day.

Each winner will receive a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! We like to see lots of winners, so please remember that each person can only win one round during the month. Have fun!

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

Layout Contests:

December Monthly Layout Contest: For this month's contest we want you to scrap a layout using a Christmas carol or Hanukkah song as inspiration. You can use just the title or include some of the verses. If the song has a particular memory or meaning for you, journal about that. Share with us a favorite holiday song. Post your layouts in the December Gallery before Midnight MT on December 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!