ITS NOT EASY BEING A PRINCESS
Originally uploaded by juwee1.

"...my niece"

Scrapbook Table
Originally uploaded by moliere1331.

"A recent scrapbook 'layout', found in our basement. Seattle, WA. Feb 20 2005"

sbham
Originally uploaded by Hoover Family Photos.

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MY FIRST CAR
Originally uploaded by juwee1.

"Dear Dad-Thank-you so much for my car. It's been working out really nicely and I think it's super cute! Thanks for getting my car washed and putting gas in it for me. That was really nice of you and I appreciate all that you do for me. Thanks again and I love you very much. I know I don't always give you the credit you deserve but you are a great dad and you do a lot for me. You're the best! -I love you- S



"

It's a little hard to see, but notice the in-set photo of the girl's head in the upper-left.

JUST HAVING FUN
Originally uploaded by juwee1.

"
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.




"

Here's a layout that really comes out at you!

scrapbooking 060
Originally uploaded by Hoover Family Photos.

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sbblocks
Originally uploaded by Hoover Family Photos.

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I think the word at the top is supposed to say "BLOCKS" but some of the letter doesn't show through well in the photo.

Ned Under Glass
Originally uploaded by azchef101.

"This is a 12x12 scrapbook page I made for Cathy on her birthday."

A scrapbook page for a dog. I like how the space was used up.

A GARDEN FULL OF LOVE
Originally uploaded by juwee1.

"Mother's Day 2004-A Gift made for Mom

.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
License.

"

sblittlepiggies
Originally uploaded by Hoover Family Photos.

"Yet another scrapbooking page. I haven't attached the top row of letters, because Arden is sleeping--but you can't tell unless you look really close. "

Featured scrapbooking layout photo of the day.

Photo or Scanner Art is a simple way to capture still life images that can be turned into creative pieces of art to decorate your home.

Many ordinary objects that would be difficult to photograph are good candidates for photo art - in particular objects where it is otherwise difficult to get a good, clear close-up shot of your subject.

These include such items as...

Feathers
Fruit and vegetables
Shells
Flowers
Pine Cones

To name a few.

Various backgrounds can be created for your artwork including the use of tissue paper, rice paper, velvet or any texture or background that would add interest.

Before placing objects onto the scanner surface it is important to protect it from scratches and accidental damage. I like to use a sheet of acetate (OHP transparency is a good option). Likewise any debris should be removed from the object and
also the glass which could ruin the finished image. It is easier at this stage than to have to do a touch-up with your editing software program later on.

Be careful not to touch the scanner glass as it can be easily ruined by acids such as perspiration on fingertips, drink or food coming into contact with it likewise do not scan anything that is wet or damp.

I like to let my scanner warm up for at least half an hour to ensure that I get the best quality scanned image.

Compose your composition away from the scanner and when you are happy with your arrangement lay your objects carefully onto the scanner surface. Now you are ready to scan your masterpiece.

If you are using a background (instead of the scanner cover as your background) it is better to remove the cover to avoid accidental damage.

Light backgrounds can be created using

- Scanner Cover
- Tissue or Rice paper

To create a seamless Black background

- Make a black box at least 6 inches deep to sit on top of your scanner. By having this depth you will ensure that it is always out of focus. Black velvet makes a good liner but be careful to remove any white specks that could show up in the final image with a small piece of sticky cellotape.

Start scanning at a lower resolution because of the memory required and increase until you have the result you require.

Save your images onto computer ready for printing.

To print your images, use a good quality plain paper, glossy paper or textured board.

If you use a textured board paper this can be sealed using a decoupage medium to give the appearance of a textured canvas. This is especially good for still life arrangements. To give an aged appearance to your art use a crackle medium.


Copyright 2005. J Black.

For more resources and ideas for creative living go to http://www.netwrite-publish.com

Sticker Planet, a company that sells stickers and papers through its print catalog and website, has created the Charity Crop Challenge™, and is offering prizes to organizers of charity crops that benefit the fight against ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).

Participants who organize charity crops can win a $2,500 Sticker Planet gift certificate and other prizes from the company depending on how much they raise. Sticker Planet co-owner Hilary Kraft explains, "We're a family-owned company and our father, Bernie Kraft, died from ALS in 2003. We thought this would be a fitting way to honor his memory and to raise money to fight this horrible disease. 100% of the proceeds raised in the Charity Crop Challenge™ will benefit ALS charities."

Anyone interested in organizing a charity crop, wanting tips on organizing a charity crop, or needing more information, may visit Sticker Planet's website at http://www.stickerplanet.com/ or call 1-800-557-8678.

Thirteen photographers from across the world watched images of the Indian Ocean tsunami with the same paralyzed horror as did the rest of us. They wanted to help raise money, and did so by producing a book called, "Images to Brighten Our World", a 110-page full-color book of stunning images, with all proceeds benefitting tsunami-related charities.

Photographer James Geddes of Seattle, Washington (www.TakeYourBestShot.com), co-edited the compilation with fellow photographer Trine Sirnes of Norway (www.sirnesphotography.com). 'As an artist deeply touched by the recent tragedy, I was searching for a way to make a difference," explains Geddes, who founded the online photographers' guild Digital Photography Internationale (DPI). "I wanted to do something more to help than just put links to tsunami relief agencies on my web site."

Geddes reached out to fellow digital photographers across the globe to donate their work for what would become, over the course of three weeks of online collaboration, Images to Brighten Our World, a full-color coffee table photography book available through the publish-on-demand technology of Lulu (www.lulu.com), a company founded by open source entrepreneur Bob Young.

Young took a special interest in the project. "It is the combination of instant communication and visual images our modern technology makes possible that has created bonds around the world," writes Young in an introduction to the book. "We do not need to know what he is saying when we see a picture of a father holding an injured child. In an instant - in a moment faster than the fastest speed reader, or more clearly than the most sympathetic radio voice - we understand this could have been us."

$25.00 of the book's $34.95 jacket price will to go three charities doing work in tsunami-affected countries: Save the Children, The Humane Society, and Sarvodaya in Sri Lanka. To purchase the book, visit: http://dpinternationale.com/