Note from Ro: I recently stumbled on this conversation I had with my daughter, Julianne, in 2009. Fortunately, I wrote it down. As I read it, I was filled with a terrible longing for her to be a teenager again. She was so funny!

On second thought... maybe that wouldn't be a great idea. She has presented me with a wonderful granddaughter and I wouldn't want to miss out on that. I think I better keep her as she is.

The best age for our children is how old they currently are. The best thing to do to remember them as they were is to document what happened. If you don't, you'll never remember the funny, touching details of your life.

So go forth my friends... scrapbook something today!

Rozanne Paxman

Why you need to document your life right now!

Ring!

Me: This is Rozanne.

Her: Where are you?

Me: We went to the doctor.

Her: Why aren't you home?

Me: Because I have to have a medical test.

Her: Where's Dad?

Me: With me.

Her: Oh... You know that company I'm in training to sell stuff for?

Me: Yes.

Her: They have this stuff that will get rid of your zits.

Me: Hmmmm.

Her: You ought to buy it.

Me: (No response)

Her: They also have this back thing that really stretches it out.

Me: They think something might be wrong with my kidney.

Her: This guy has it, and he says it really helps him.

Me: It may be my kidney.

Her: Are you going to be okay?

Me: Yes, I'll be fine.

Her: Okay... Well, we have this stuff that is good for menopause....

Me: I had a hysterectomy in 1993. I don't have menopause.

Her: Oh... Well, Dad might want to try it.

Me: (Laughter)

Her: Really - there is this old guy who takes it, and it really helps him.

Me: (Laughter) I'm sorry but that was really funny.

Her: Well, we also have this stuff for Old Timers.

Me: (Laughter) Honey, it's Alzheimer's not Old Timers.

Her: Well, it would help him.

Me: (Laughter) Honey, I love you. (Laughter) I'll see you when I get home.

Her: Okay, Mom. I love you, too.

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 Kim Meeder using February's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Kim Meeder

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 Ashleigh Bronner using January's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Cherise Oleson and Brandie Valenzuela

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!

Making Text Pop on Busy Backgrounds

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS5 with Windows XP.

Being a digital scrapbooking product designer is a bit like being a mad scientist: I have the pleasure of mixing my potions - a dab of this, a pinch of that - and experimenting with different combinations of colors, patterns, and textures until Voila! - everything comes together as a cohesive whole. I love imagining how all the elements and papers might be arranged together to make so many pretty pages... even envisioning pulling in bits from other collections I have designed or adding a shape or two out of my designer hat.

But what happens when I run across an item that doesn't work in every artistic situation? Then it's time to find an imaginative solution to a digital puzzle. Here is a perfect example: In my Patchwork Quilt: Wish Collection Mini, the silver stencil word art pieces have great contrast on solid papers but get lost in heavy patterns. How can I highlight these words on a busy background? By making it color-fill! Follow along and I'll show you how.

First, we will fill in the words with color.

Begin with the MAD_QuiltWish_WA_stencil-wish layer active in the Layers Palette. Using the Magic Wand Tool, with the Tolerance at 0 and Contiguous checked, click inside the words to select them; use Shift+Click to select areas that are not connected, such as the dot of the letter i. The "marching ants" will be visible.

In the Layers Palette, add a new layer above the MAD_QuiltWish_WA_stencil-wish layer. Use Alt+Delete (Opt+Delete on Mac) to fill the selection (what color you choose is insignificant).

Leave the selection active ("marching ants" on).

In the screen shot, you see I've changed the new layer's name to "Fill."

Now, let's highlight the word.

In the Layers Palette, add another new layer above the Fill layer.

To enlarge the selection, go to Select> Modify> Expand. For the sample, I used 5 pixels. Click "OK."

To add an outline to the selection, go to Edit> Stroke. In the pop-up menu, I chose Width: 8 pixels and Location: Outside for the sample (color is insignificant). Click "OK."

In the screen shot, you see I've changed the new layer's name to "Stroke."

We are finished with the "marching ants" at this point. You may turn off the selection with Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on Mac).

Now, let's finish our transformation with a little bit of style.

To the Fill layer, I've added style #1 from ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Painted Canvas - Modern Super Biggie 6401. In the Layer Style Menu, I turned off the visibility of the Inner Glow and changed the Pattern Overlay's scale to 83%. To the Stroke layer, I added style #6 from ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Mixed Metals 6402 Biggie.

Because I loved how this turned out, I used this technique several times in my layout - wash, rinse, repeat - well, you know what I mean. A few easy steps and these stencils went from hiding in the shadows to being the stars of the show, and our little drama concluded with a happy ending!

Thanks for playing along!

Are you new to digital scrapbooking or do you want to take your digital layouts to a new level? Check out the incredible tutorials on Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed and MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

Layout by Marnie Adams
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Painted Canvas - Modern 6401 Super Biggie and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Mixed Metals 6402 Biggie are also available.

Tutorial written by Marnie Adams

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.

Scrapbooking 911 - 2-page Sketches
to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking eBook

Are you stuck in a creative corner? Need a jumpstart to your layouts? Want more ideas how to go from a blank page to a digital masterpiece? With a fresh collection of original sketches, all the hard design decisions (such as balance, composition, and rule of thirds) have already been made for you.

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!

Ten Beginner Tips on Type eBook

If you're creating a digital scrapbooking layout, it's almost guaranteed that you'll be using type on your pages somewhere. But did you know that type can make or break your page? What typeface will you use? What size font? Where will you place it on your page? If you want to take some beginner steps towards improving the type on your layouts, and thereby improving the overall look of your layouts, then this eBook is perfect for you.

See more titles

Layout by Angie Briggs
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Designer Freebie by Angie Briggs coordinates with her Summer Romance Collection Mini

Commercial license versions of Summer Romance Collection 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

ScrapSimple - Use It! Chat
Friday, February 4th - 8:00AM MT

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 Friday, February 4th at 8am MT as we focus on using one of these versatile products!

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique Chat
Friday, February 4th - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) at 9am MT on Friday mornings to chat about all the wonderful new products in the Scrap Girls Boutique! What are your favorite new items? Is your shopping basket full? What did you kaboodle? Have you already done layouts or other projects with your new goodies? Come tell the designers how much you love their work. You never know who will show up. There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat too!

Back-Up Party and Chat - Early Edition
Friday, February 4th - 2:00PM MT

Need a little extra motivation to back-up your layouts and stash? Join April (April Showers) in the chat room at 2pm MT for the Early Edition of the Back-up Party and Chat. The goal of these chats is to make sure our back-ups are current. Come chat while you back up your files. We'll also go over several different ways to safeguard your files and even give you some tips on organizing your supplies. Grab some chocolate and we'll see you in the chat room!

ScrapSimple Club Chat
Monday, February 7th - 6:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) on Monday, February 7th at 6pm 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!

NSBR Chat
Monday, February 7th - 7:00PM 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 us, Carla (CRS) and Lei (Bride) on February 7th at 7pm MT!

Hybrid ATC Swap Chat
Tuesday, February 8th - 6:00PM MT

Please join Shannon (tinkerbell11) and Lei (Bride) at 6pm MT on Tuesday, February 8th as we host the chat for another round of our Hybrid ATC Swap. Didn't participate this round? Not sure what it is? Come join us to find out all of the particulars!

New Member Chat
Tuesday, February 8th - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes) 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 Live Chat.

Sketch Challenge Chat
Tuesday, February 8th - 8:00PM MT

It's time for the Sketch Challenge and Crop! Join Cheri (Cheri T) for a Tuesday night edition on February 8th at 8pm MT in the Scrap Girls Chat Room! Enjoy getting a little creative boost for your pages? Are you needing help getting started? Then this is the challenge for you! A few hours before the chat begins, Cheri will post a link for you to download the sketch. Use it as the starting point for your page; be inspired by the basic arrangement; flip things around or copy the entire set up exactly. All interpretations of the design are welcome and encouraged. And don't worry about any deadlines... post your layout when it works with your schedule. Hope to see you there!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, February 9th - 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 February 9th, we'll do a five-photo challenge! Create a layout using five photos - no more, no less! 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 & Chat
Wednesday, February 9th - 7:00PM MT

Join Carla (CRS) and Thersea (tiza126) for a new twist on the Baby Theme Crop! We're starting the New Year with a new challenge. This month, we'll work with ABC's. Include something in your layout that starts with a D, an E and an F! We'll see you in the chat room on Wednesday, February 9th at 7pm MT!

FEBRUARY EVENTS

February Message Board Game: Posting Contest!

It's that time again - Posting Contest time! This is where you are rewarded for your flying fingers and chattiness. The contest will run from February 1st when we post the thread to February 28th at 12:00 Midnight (MST). We are doing things a little differently this time and there are two ways to participate - the Message Board and the Gallery, so here are the rules:

1) To enter the Message Board Posting Challenge, reply in the game thread with your CURRENT post count. This is the number under your Avatar that shows when you post. Do not post the number found on your profile; it is a different number that is calculated differently. During the month, chat your fingers off! On February 28th, BEFORE Midnight (MST), go back to your original post in the game thread (the one with your starting post count) and take a screenshot of it. Send the screenshot to [email protected]. The screenshot is your contest entry! We will calculate your post count based on the numbers on the screenshot. (Directions for taking screenshots will be posted in the game thread.)

2) To enter the Gallery Posting Challenge, take a screenshot of your Gallery comment number and send it to [email protected] BEFORE February 1st, Midnight (MST). To get to your Gallery Stats, click the arrow beside your Profile photo and go down to Gallery. Your total comments number is under Stats on the left-hand side - this is what we need a screenshot of to know where you are starting. Then BEFORE Midnight (MST) on February 28th, take another screenshot of your Gallery Stats and send it to [email protected], this will give us your ending number and enter you in the contest!

PRIZES: You may enter both contests. Members with Message Board posts over 50 will be put in a drawing for a $5 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate. Members with Message Board posts over 200 will be put in a drawing for both the $5 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate and a $10 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate. Members with Message Board posts over 400 will be put in a drawing for a $15 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate, as well as the $5 and $10 Gift Certificates. Members with Gallery comments over 25 will be put in a drawing for $10 Scrap Girls Gift Certificate.

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

Layout Contests:

February Monthly Layout Contest: In the spirit of Mardi Gras, let’s scrap about parties!! For the February Layout Contest, we'd love to see your layouts featuring people or things that make a party special to you! It can be a party you hosted or one you attended. So put your party hats on and post your layouts in the February Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight MT on February 28th. 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!