Have You Chosen a Word of the Year?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012

IN TODAY'S ISSUE:

• 27.7% off Annual Winter Sale!
• What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?
• Life Muse by Ro
• ScrapSimple Club
• Tips from the Pros: Creating Title Pages for Themed Scrapbook Albums
• Designer Freebie
• What's Happening at Scrap Girls?
• Ongoing Opportunities for YOU

Rozanne Paxman

Have You Chosen a Word of the Year?

Choosing a word of the year has become fairly popular among bloggers and scrapbookers. Last year, I decided to try it out and see what happened. The word I choose for 2011 was SAVOR. My intentions when choosing SAVOR was that I begin to live life more fully and bravely. I wanted to take more pleasure in my life and enjoy it.

That is what I intended, and in the end, that is what happened. But, as it turned out, in order for me to savor my life, I had to make some very difficult decisions and take actions that scared me to death. I had to do some house-cleaning both within and without. I had to examine myself and face what I found.

It was a tough year. Very, very tough. It was a wonderful year. Very, very wonderful. It was a year that I'll never forget.

Now - one year later - I can safely say that 2011 was a gigantic growth year for me. It was the year I became brave. It was the year I learned to fully believe in myself. It was the year I learned to forgive myself and others. It was the year I dropped things that had bothered me for decades. It was the year I learned not to be bothered by things I can't control.

By year's end, I had re-found my zest for living. I regained my appreciation for my family, my friends, and my work. I remembered why I love my life and what I do. I began to relish my days and now I look forward to getting up each morning. My ability to come up with new ideas returned. I learned to relax and enjoy myself.

Do I still have problems? Sure. Do I still have health issues to battle with? Sure. Do I still have challenges of all sorts? Sure. Do I occasionally have self-doubts? Sure. Do I make mistakes? Nearly every day. But overall, I'm okay. I'm really, truly okay. I feel like a different person than I was one year ago, and that's a very good thing. It's good to grow.

So, as you can see, I found the Word of the Year experience quite fascinating. After carefully considering what it might mean to me to take on another word, I've decided to try it again. Because I now feel that choosing a word is a serious matter, I took months to decide what this year's word would be. I was having such a hard time picking one this time around that I nearly abandoned my search. But then one morning, I read a couple of talks about faith and gleaned a couple of ideas that I knew I wanted to remember.

1. Faith is an action word.
2. Faith looks towards the future and leaves the past in the past.

I love those thoughts. I think it will be quite useful for me to drum them into my head, heart, and soul. Therefore, my word of 2012 is FAITH.

Last year, I made a couple of very simple paper reminders of my word SAVOR. I stuck one on a dresser drawer and one on my bathroom mirror, which I looked at twice a day. As I think back on it, I realize that my choice to place it on the mirror was a good one because I did think about my word fairly often as I prepared for my day and for bed each evening.

This year, I decided to spend a little more time on my word declaration, and so I created a printable piece of artwork that I have hung on my office wall in an 8x10-inch picture frame. I'm also going to print out a little one and stick it to my mirror.

(The lighting in this photo is a little off. It is actually as gold as the original and looks very nice against my blue wall.)

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If you'll read it carefully, you'll see that faith is either the first or the last word of each sentence.

Here is a portion of one of the talks that helped me select faith as my word of 2012.

"Because of the conflicts and challenges we face in today's world, I wish to suggest a single choice - a choice of peace and protection and a choice that is appropriate for all. That choice is faith. Be aware that faith is not a free gift given without thought, desire, or effort. It does not come as the dew falls from heaven. The Savior said, "Come unto me" (Matthew 11:28) and "Knock, and it shall be [given] you" (Matthew 7:7). These are action verbs - come, knock. They are choices. So I say, choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism." Richard C Edgley

I challenge you to choose a word for 2012. Once you have, place the word where you can see it. Don't worry about having to "do" anything about the word. Chances are that life will bring opportunities for your word to take on a life of its own. At the end of the year, take a little time to reflect on the word and see if it made an impact. You might be very surprised at the results. If you would like, you could make a digital scrapbooking layout or a piece of printable artwork with your word on it, as I have. If you'd care to, you could share your layout or artwork with us in the Scrap Girls Gallery. I'd love to see what you come up with!

Have a great day.

Until tomorrow,
Ro

Commercial license versions of 8.5x11 Basic Neutrals 2201 Paper Biggie are also available.

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!

		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). A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple Club is also available here. With the ScrapSimple Club, you will receive: 1 ScrapSimple Paper Template Set 1 ScrapSimple Embellishment Template 1 Brush Set 2 Designer's Choice Item CLUB EXCLUSIVE! Nano Collection CLUB EXCLUSIVE! Designer's Choice Item CLUB EXCLUSIVE! 2 Tutorials December's ScrapSimple Club has been created for you by Laura Louie and Melissa Renfro Club Exclusive! Nano Collection Club Exclusive! Designer's Gift
Layout by Laura Louie using December's ScrapSimple Club larger view	Layout by Melissa Renfro using December's ScrapSimple Club larger view	Layout by Laura Louie using December's ScrapSimple Club larger view

Creating Title Pages for Themed Scrapbook Albums

Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS4 with Windows XP

Whether you are just starting or finishing up a themed scrapbook album, you'll want to create a great title page to introduce your theme or subject. Because your title page is the first page your viewer will see, you need to plan the message you want it to convey.

A great title page has a few key components. You want to choose colors and embellishments for your title page which reflect the style of those used within your album. For your text, make sure there is enough contrast between the text color and your background to make the words stand out. If you struggle with text and choosing fonts, the Ten Beginner Tips on Type eBook is a helpful resource. Use fonts that are readable at your finished page size. Go to View> Print Size to preview how your text will look when it is printed.

A simple way to make a quick, well-balanced title page for your themed album is to use a Scrap Simple Digital Layout Template. Most layout templates already have a place for your title and photos. I used a template included in the Scrap Girls 2009 Digital Scrap Link Class: Combining ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates ebook to create a title page for my daughter and son-in-law's wedding album. I prefer simple title pages that hint at what is inside the album without telling the whole story. I chose the photo I wanted to use on my title page first and then found a layout template that worked well with it.

For your title pages, you may prefer to showcase extra photos that don't fit in the album with a collage-style title page. There are as many styles of title pages as there are scrapbook layouts. You can find layout templates that will make great title pages for any style of themed scrapbook album you want to create. Browse the digital layout templates section in the Scrap Girls' Boutique now!

Layout by April Martell
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Commercial license versions of Gypsy Boots Collection Biggie, Ribbons To Go Embellishment Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Paper Roses, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: A Bit of Texture Edges Biggie, Styles Pack: Mulberry and Lettering Delights Perpetual Font are also available.

Article written by April Martell

Learn to make digital scrapbooking layouts and more! – Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed Find out how easy it can be to learn how to create digital scrapbook layouts, edit photos, use and make brushes, recolor papers and embellishments, make your own simple backgrounds and embellishments, save and share your layouts and much more! Ready to learn advanced techniques? – MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed Learn to use paper templates, embellishment templates, custom shapes, styles, and brushes to make your own supplies. Learn advanced clipping mask and lighting blend techniques. Learn to make and use patterns. Learn to make brushes from your own doodles. Learn to extract images from photos. Learn work flow techniques that will speed up the layout creation process and advanced photo editing skills and much, much more!

Layout by Melissa Renfro
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Designer Freebie by Melissa Renfro coordinates with
her ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Clocks,
part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Clocks, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Signs of Times and Well Loved Collection Biggie are also available.

Today's freebie designed by Melissa Renfro

* 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.

Project SG Chat
Tuesday, January 10th - 6:00PM MST

Join April (April Showers) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the chat room Tuesday, January 10th at 6pm MT for the first Project SG Chat of 2012! Come learn the details of this year-long challenge. You can even win fantastic prizes for joining in!

New Member Chat
Tuesday, January 10th - 7:00PM MST

Join Pat (PBarnes) and Theresa (tiza126) 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 will need to have Java installed on your computer to access the Live Chat.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, January 11th - 10:00AM MST

Join April (April Showers) each Wednesday at 10am MT 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 January 11th, we'll do a "Use Your Stash" challenge! Create a layout using products you've had for a while, but just haven't used yet! Create your layout and upload it to the special High Noon Crop Gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you! Hope to see you in the chat room!

Hybrid Craft Chat
Wednesday, January 11th - 6:00PM MST

Join Carla (CRS) and Shannon (tinkerbell11) in the chat room at 6pm MT for this month's Hybrid Craft Chat. We will show you how to create a unique craft project with your digital supplies and goodies from your craft room!

January Message Board Game: Jumpstart January!

It's time to kick off the new year with fun and focus on scrapbooking! And a few prizes thrown in never hurt, right? Join us on the message board this month for "Jumpstart January!" This is a message board game and challenge to start your year with fun and focus on taking time to scrapbook regularly despite the little speedbumps of life. When the month is over, you'll have completed several layouts and been challenged and treated to some fun along the way.

A member of the Welcoming Committee will post a mini-challenge/task every Monday through Saturday during January. Some tasks will require message board participation, email responses, or gallery posting. Those who complete all tasks and submit or post required participation by 11:59pm MT on January 31st 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 drawing to win one of two $5 Gift Certificates. Those who complete just the speedbumps will be entered in a drawing for one of two $3 Gift Certificates. (Those who complete all tasks will have their name entered in all three drawings!)

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

January Monthly Layout Contest: With the beginning of a new year, many people set aside some time to set goals. It might be an exercise plan or establishing better eating habits. It might be getting your life more organized. Or maybe you set goals for your digital scrapbooking output for the year. Post your layouts in the January Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight MST on January 31st. Be sure to list your layout's product credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. Two layouts will be selected to 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!

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