Rozanne Paxman

Can't Sleep

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

It's 12:45 a.m., and I'm wondering when I'll begin to feel sleepy.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

I look around the room and notice the evidence of an unsettled mind. Unread books fill the shelves of the bookcase. Bottles of unused lotion sit in a basket. An empty water bottle rests beneath a lamp.

"How long has that been there?" I wonder, realizing that I have no idea when the water evaporated from the bottle.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Deciding that it is time to rearrange the furniture, I strap on mental moving gear and start shifting it around the room in my mind. "Ugh," I think. "I'm stuck. I can't get it to work."

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

"I thought the clock had a backlight," I think, miffed. "I can't see it at all. What's the point of owning a clock if you have to get up and stick it in your face to see it?"

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

I peer at the clock: 12:53. Eight minutes since the last time I looked. "Why does time go so slowly when you can't sleep?" I wonder. "Am I such bad company that I bore myself?"

Moving along, my mind notices the conversation it is having is as tedious as a cement driveway. "Why, exactly, do I bore myself? Am I boring or is this a momentary boring event?"

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

"Could it be that I always divert myself by working, talking, eating, and watching television? Am I unable to bear quiet?"

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

I ask the questions, but don't like the answers I receive. The truth is, I feel nervous if I am not either doing something, reading something, drawing something, or watching something. Perhaps I'm afraid of what I might say to me if don't have something there - such as my journal - to moderate the action.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

I breathe.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

"Perhaps, I'm not afraid," I realize. "Perhaps I'm simply inexperienced. Perhaps I can solve the problem if I practice sitting alone and don't do anything other than simply be.... Be me.... Yes... that's it. I just need practice doing nothing."

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Clickety-clack. Clickety-clack.

"Wait a minute," I say aloud. "What's that sound?"

"It's your NEO Alphasmart, you dope," I respond. "You've been typing."

Tick. Tock. Tock. Tock.

It's now 1:25 a.m. Time to turn out the light. I'll try to reform myself some other time.

'Nite.

- Ro

Follow Ro's popular blog – Life Muses by Ro
Blog-only muses and humor pieces, inside scoop of Ro's life, photo journals, and more)

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Food recipes, homemaking tips, gardening, quilting, and other neat stuff her mom and grandma taught her

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
larger view

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 Cherise Oleson using January's ScrapSimple Club
larger view

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!

Creating Pretty Snowflake Embellishments for Digital Scrapbooking Layouts

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS4 with Mac OS X.

Brrrrrr! It's cold here in Pennsylvania! This is the time of year to sit by the fireplace and scrap my winter pictures. As much as I enjoy the beauty of winter, I love the warmth of sitting in front of the fireplace, sipping cocoa and scrapping. It's my idea of a perfect winter day - especially, if it's snowing outside. I can still have some fun with some snow while not moving! How great is digital scrapbooking?!

I'm going to show you some of the fun effects that you can achieve with ScrapSimple Embellishments: Cut Out Snowflakes.

First, decide what snowflake you would like to use. Open the PNG file and click Image> Duplicate to create a duplicate copy to work with. Close your original file. In the next few minutes, you will see just a few of the countless possibilities that can be done with the click of your mouse.

Here is the snowflake I have chosen:

Who says snowflakes have to be white, right? First, click the Layer Style icon (fx) at the bottom of your Layers Palette and choose "Color Overlay" from the pop-up menu.

Don't worry that your snowflake is red. You're going to change that now. Double-click on the color box. The "Select Overlay Color" box will open. Choose the color you would like your snowflake to be. I have chosen a pretty, icy blue color. Click OK.

Your snowflake will magically change colors. But you're not done. We don't want to lose the folded paper effect of the template. Change the Blending Mode to "Multiply" and decrease the Opacity until you achieve the desired effect. I have my Opacity set at 60%.

You may have to play with different Blending Modes and Opacities depending on the color you have chosen. Have fun experimenting!

Let's take this snowflake a step further. Let's add a style to it.(If you are feeling really adventurous, change the color of your snowflake by double-clicking the words "Color Overlay" on the snowflake layer in your Layers Palette. Choose a different color.)

Duplicate the snowflake layer. You should have two duplicate layers of the snowflake in your Layers Palette. Highlight the top layer. That is the layer where we will add the style.

I'm going to add a scattered glitter effect using Amanda Sok's ScrapSimple Tools: Styles - Loose Glitter 6401 Super Biggie. If you were to apply this style directly to your colored snowflake, you would no longer see the snowflake. You would only see some scattered glitter in the shape of the snowflake. By duplicating the original layer and applying the style to the top layer, we are able to add glitter to the snowflake itself.

Next, merge the two layers together. Now you have a colored and glittered snowflake to use.

Okay, let's make one more snowflake. I'm going to use another snowflake shape this time. Change is good, right?!

We are going to use a clipping mask on the snowflake. Drag a paper above your snowflake. I have used a paper from Caroline Kaiser's Bohemian Rhapsody Collection Biggie. Next, use Layer> Create Clipping Mask or the shortcut Cmd+Opt+G on Mac (Ctrl+Alt+G on PC). The paper should now be clipped to the snowflake. If your paper is correctly clipped, you will see a small arrow leading from the paper to the snowflake layer below in your Layers Palette.

Next, play with the Blending Modes until you find one that you like. I have chosen "Color Burn" at an Opacity of 100%. Surprising result, isn't it? It just goes to show you what happens when you experiment and play with the Blending Modes and your digital scrapbooking paper stash.

Last week, I captured some photographs of my granddaughter's first day in the snow. These snowflakes were perfect for scrapping this memory. Although I chose to stay a bit more traditional in the colors of my snowflakes, I encourage you to be wild and crazy. Have fun and stay warm!

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 Kim Meeder
larger view

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Cut Out Snowflakes, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Doodle Link Frames, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates: 12x12 Get A-Round, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Glitter Sparks 6401 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001 and Lettering Delights Underwood Pica Font are also available.

Tutorial written by Kim Meeder

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 Theresa Kavouras
larger view

Designer Freebie by Theresa Kavouras coordinates with her Sweet Stuff Collection

Commercial license versions of Sweet Words Collection 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

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique Chat
Friday, February 11th - 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!

Use Your Stash Chat
Friday, February 11th - 5:00PM MT

Join Theresa (tiza126) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the chatroom to talk about all of the Scrap Girls' digital treasures you have yet to use! We will post a challenge for a layout earlier in the day. See you there and start getting those goodies ready!

Hybrid Craft Chat
Friday, February 11th - 6:00PM MT

Just because you digitally crapbook doesn't mean you can't still play with paper and other fun goodies like glitter, fibers and glue! Join Carla (CRS) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the chatroom for ideas on how to get more use out of you digital supplies. We do a new hybrid craft each month!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Saturday, February 12th - 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!

Monthly Recipe Swap Chat
Saturday, February 12th - 7:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) and Lei (Bride) at 7pm MT in the chat room for our Monthly Recipe Swap Chat. Please check the message board the Thursday before the chat for this month's theme and the swap details!

Journaling Chat
Monday, February 14th - 6:00PM MT

Join Carla (CRS) and Lei (Bride) for a Journaling Chat at 6pm MT on the second Monday of each month. 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!

Quote Challenge Chat
Monday, February 14th - 7:00PM MT

Come join Pat (PBarnes) for the Quote Challenge Crop at 7pm 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. Here's how it will work. On Monday, 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!

New Member Chat - Early Edition
Tuesday, February 15th - 1:00PM MT

Join Debbie (B&K Mom) 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.

Faith Journey Chat
Tuesday, February 15th - 6:00PM MT

Join Elisha (elibar) and Lei (Bride) for a Faith Journey Chat on the third Tuesday of each month at 6pm MT. All faiths are welcome! We'll be chatting and scrapping about our individual faith walk and how we also walk together. Watch the message board for this month's topic of discussion, and if you like - create a layout based on the topic!

Life Moments Chat
Tuesday, February 15th - 7:00PM MT

Join Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the Chat room for a Life Moments Chat on Tuesday, February 15th at 7pm MT. A layout idea will be posted earlier in the day for you to get started. These chats are meant to help you scrapbook about YOU!

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!