Rozanne Paxman

Yesterday's Over

"Yesterday's over. Yesterday's over."

The alarm clock jolted me out of the darkness that surrounded me. I threw my hand out of the blanket and slammed it down on the snooze button. My mind attempted to push out of the fog.

"Yesterday's over," the radio sang again. "Yesterday's ohhh-ver."

I suddenly realized what I had heard. Yesterday is over. Tomorrow hasn't arrived. I am here, in the now, breathing in and out, thinking one thought at a time. What has happened in the world is immaterial. What will happen will happen. I can influence what happens to me by choosing my thoughts carefully. I can choose my reactions to what happens outside of me. These choices happen one by one, one breath, one thought, one moment at a time.

Yes, yesterday is over, and I am living now.

Note: I want to show you how I fixed this photo in a flash. No fussing required and the result looks great.

I opened the photo in Photoshop. Notice that the light is creating a yellow tint to the image. I could have changed the white balance setting on my camera when I was taking the photo, but truthfully, I rarely do this because I am in such a hurry all of the time. See how yellow the lamp looks (it's actually white) and how green the wall appears (the wall color is soft blue)?



I duplicated the photo layer. Then I applied ScrapSimple Tools – Styles: Photo Fix 2201 to the layer.


Next, I adjusted the lighting blend setting levels until I liked how the image looked. I reduced the Opacity level to 55% and the Fill level to 61%.

Confession: I created this particular Style set because I wanted to make it easier for me to edit photos taken in my home at night. The faster I can do it, the better!

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 hello@scrapgirls.com. 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 Erica Hite 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 Brandie Valenzuela using August's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Thao Cosgrove 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!

The Original

A little over four years ago, our family was going through transition. Our oldest daughter, Ashley, had just graduated from high school and was preparing for college. I was in the process of learning how to be a digital scrapbooker.

This layout is classic from my early days using Photoshop; I love the photo, but many of the design elements really missed their mark. Those of you who have seen my layouts over the years may be surprised to see a page by me that is all black and gray (color is really my thing now). At the time, I thought the neutral palette would enhance the photo, but it really creates a bit of a mismatch where none of the hues in the picture are being used to enhance the piece. Also, the arrangement is off-balance with Ashley looking off the edge of the page and not a single embellishment to ground the photograph down. I'm not fond of my early attempt at flowers - which actually resemble giant alien eggs, served sunny-side up.

Original layout by Marnie Adams

The Do-Over

My first change was to shift the photo to the upper left of the canvas. Now her gaze is into the center and draws the viewer into the layout. I selected the Blue2 background from Grand Old Flag Solids Paper Mini to match Ashley's pretty blue irises. Notice how I aligned the top of the Blue-Quilt-patterned paper from the Grand Old Flag Collection with the center of her eye. Vertically, I placed the revised journaling directly below her other eye; now the weight of the page is shifted underneath the focal point of the photograph.

I also changed font size to be more appropriate proportionally to the negative space, and I removed the quote altogether - preferring to feature my sentiment rather than someone else's.

The next step was arranging three groups of embellishments; notice how they form a visual triangle around the picture. Each grouping varies in size, the most important one being the biggest.

Using the red from the pattern as my main accent, I chose the color to appear in three separate areas to balance it around the design. Gold is used as the third player in my color palette because it picks up the highlights of Ashley's hair; I like how the shine of the jewelry matches nicely.

Next, I want you to see a small detail that many people overlook: Spacing. I took the time to make sure the gaps along the bottom and right edges and between the journaling and the white paper are all the same. It doesn't take long to shift the placement of items to create consistent spacing throughout your design. This tiny adjustment can make a huge difference in how harmonious your page appears.

To finish the layout, I added two more charms to the necklace; the center of the gold ring created a perfect spot for the date. I placed a gold heart in the upper right to pull the color into that grouping. I completed the look with a couple of photo turns and another flower brad.

The final version of the layout now plays up the beauty of the photograph, is more feminine to suit the subject, and uses color to make a balanced and complementary composition.

Have you ever wanted to get a makeover - A layout makeover? Do you ever wonder how someone might decide to make certain changes and why? In ReMix: (Digital Scrapbooking) From Ordinary to Extraordinary! eBook, you have the opportunity to virtually "look over the shoulder" during the remake process, as Scrap Girls Product Designer Marnie Adams takes members' pages and plies her design magic. Drop by the Scrap Girls Boutique today!

Layout by Marnie Adams
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Glitter 6401 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Mixed Metals 6402 Biggie, Lettering Delights Timely Font and Lettering Delights Warm Heart Font are also available.

Designer Do-Over 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:

30-31 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 Jacelen Deinema
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Designer Freebie by Jacelen Deinema coordinates with her Brush Set: Desert Animals

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Scrubbed Raw and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Retro Frames 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

Life Moments Crop & Chat
Tuesday, September 7th - 2:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) in the chat room September 7th at 2pm MT for another Life Moments Chat and Crop. These chats are focused on building a scrapbook all about you, one layout at a time. This week we will be focusing on Back to School Memories. If you're like me, you may not have Back to School photos of yourself, but I've found other photos that will work with this challenge. Go ahead, dig through your files, write down your memories, and be sure to join us in the chat room!

Creative Cards Chat
Tuesday, September 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) for the monthly Card Chat on Tuesday, September 7th at 6pm MT. Can't wait to see you there!

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 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 September 8th, we'll do a favorite photo challenge! Create a layout show casing a recently-taken favorite photo! 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
Wednesday, September 8th - 7:00PM MT

Do you need some motivation getting those baby layouts or albums done? Children grow so fast; Let's get those baby memories scrapped! You can scrap your children, grandchildren or even your own baby album. Join Carla (CRS) in the chat room on Wednesday, September 8th at 7pm MT to work on those layouts and chat about our children and grandchildren!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, September 9th - 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!

Sketch Challenge Crop
Thursday, September 9th - 7:00PM MT

Join Marnie (sprinklz) for the Sketch Challenge and Crop on Thursday, September 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 will 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 Boutique Chat
Friday, September 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!

Recipe Swap Chat
Saturday, September 11th - 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 on Thursday, September 9th for this month's theme and the swap details!

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

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Bride (Lei) for a Journaling Challenge Chat at 6pm MT on Monday, September 13. 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, September 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.

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 prizes@scrapgirls.com and we'll get it out to you right away!