Wednesday Product Pick

me and my BIG ideas (mambi) has come out with some cool laptop stickers - vinyl graphic elements for your laptop. I always wanted to decorate mine with one of those skins but I could never decide on a photo or digital layout to use. This is the perfect solution. It doesn't cover up all of the lid and the pieces can be placed anywhere. Best of all, when you want to 'redecorate' they are easily removed and can be stored back on the clear sheet they come on.

Here's the before and after shots of my HP 11" netbook.

Pretty cute!

1. Clean the lid really well with a clean cloth dipped in a little alcohol to remove fingerprints and let dry.

2. Carefully peel the stickers off and apply them one at a time.

3. Apply them from the middle outward to minimize the chance of a bubble.

4. Rub them with a clean cloth to make sure they adhered well and any bubbles are smoothed out.

They don't seem to be listed on the mambi web site yet so you can't go take a peek at all the other fun designs. 

I purchased mine at Michael's for $3.99.

Ancestor Appreciation Day and the start of Banned Books Week!

Ancestor Appreciation Day On September 27th each year, people all over the world celebrate Ancestor Appreciation Day. The National Genealogical Society estimates that family history is the second most popular hobby in America (after gardening) and one of the most searched for topics on the Internet. As a hobby, genealogy has all the right stuff. It is fun, educational, addictive, and everyone (regardless of their age) can join in. For both paper and digital scrapbookers, family heritage is one of the most popular themes for their albums. If you're ready to take the next step in your own family research, Genealogy.com has a lot of free online lessons in various topics to explore at your own pace. Learn more about your ancestors and get started tracing your family tree today!

Banned Books are also celebrated this week! Banned Books Week, a celebration of the freedom to read, was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of 'challenges' to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. More than a thousand books have been 'challenged' in every state since 1982. Challenges to books include things like: "too sexual" or "too violent," an objection to profanity and slang, offensive portrayals of racial or religious groups, or positive portrayals of homosexuals. The targeted books range from those that explore contemporary issues and controversies to classic and beloved works of American literature.   The American Library Association’s Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009 1. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs 2. “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Reasons: Homosexuality 3. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide 4. “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group 5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group 6. “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group 7. “My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult Reasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence 8. “The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things,” by Carolyn Mackler Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group 9. “The Color Purple,” Alice Walker Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group 10. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group Topping the list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of the Decade (2000 – 2009) is the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, frequently challenged for various issues including occult/Satanism and anti-family themes. During the last week of September every year, hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to the problem of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a variety of events. Visit your local library or bookstore, the official Banned Books Week web site, or the American Library Association web site to find out more. Go read a banned book today!

Free Your Glee!

BREAKING NEWS! Free Kids Puyallup Fair Admission!
Saturday, September 25, 2010 & Sunday, September 26, 2010

Kids 12 & under get FREE admission with an online coupon.
Coupon required for free entry and is valid all day Sat, Sept. 25 and Sun, Sept. 26 only.

Here's how to get your coupon:

1. Click this link to sign up for the e-mail newsletter
2. You will receive an email with a link to print your coupon
3. Present your coupon at any Fair Gate on Sept. 25th or Sept. 26th

Kids rule the last weekend of the Fair!

Visit www.thefair.com for details.

Peace One Day - and a freebie!

On September 21st, people from all over the globe, people of all ages, races, sexes and faiths, commemorate Peace Day in many ways. What are you doing today?

Be a part of the peace process. Follow these three steps:

1. Decide what you will do to make peace on 21 September, at school, at home, or in your local community
2. Log your Peace Day commitment at www.peaceoneday.org
3. Tell others around the world and ask them what they're doing on Peace One Day

Here's a teeny, tiny, peaceful freebie for you. Please send all your friends here to get their own peace rock, too.

Namaste

OMG! Watch a Single Mother Go To Jail and an Anaconda Cough Up a Hippo Video and You Can Win a Free iPad and Get $5000 Free FarmVille Dollars!

DON'T CLICK IT!!!

If you spend much time on Facebook or Twitter I'm sure you've seen people's posts on silly things like this. You may even have been given the chance to "get a free Apple iPad by signing up to test the product - it really works!" You probably won’t be surprised to learn that it’s all a scam. The con artists are usually trying to get you to add a premium cell-phone service and sucker your unwitting friends in with you.

Once you follow a Twitter link or become a fan of the Facebook offering, you’re often asked to give info on friends or get them to be fans, too, then redirected to something that looks like an Apple page, but is quickly replaced by a pop-up. One thing leads to another and pretty soon your mobile phone account is getting charged $10 a month until you cancel. All the while losing Facebook friends and Twitter followers.

Check out this YouTube video that explains more about these types of scams.



The SophosLabs (computer security and threat specialists) YouTube site contains a lot more videos about real security threats and other FB scams you may come across. Sorry, no overly stuffed anacondas, though. ;-)

40% off coupon at EK Success!

Check out this great coupon code from EK Success Brands for 40% off any one item in their online store! Enjoy the savings! Hurry - the deadline is 9/22! CODE: EKB402

The EK Success online store is here ---> http://shop.eksuccessbrands.com/default.aspx?keyword=oad+keepsake+9-08

This is what I got:



It came yesterday and I LOVE IT!!!

How to Become a Creative Team Member

Do you find yourself using products in your digital scrapbook and hybrid digital/paper crafting that come from a few designers or a certain store? You might have noticed samples of layouts and craft items in their store gallery or on their blogs that are created by a member of their creative team (CT), aka design team (DT). How did they get there and how can YOU join in the fun? Here are a few tips and ideas gathered from the designers themselves.

Definition

A creative team is a team of artists that is put together by an online store or digital designer to help them showcase their products and designs. CT members are usually required to create and post a certain number of digital layouts or hybrid creations in exchange for free product and/or other benefits.

Typical Requirements

The main job of a CT member is to promote the designs of the designer or store in as many ways as possible.

1. Create 1 to 4 layouts or hybrid projects per month. Sometimes you can use a combination of products from other designers, but you should try use at least 80% from the product you are showcasing.
   


2. Participation in the store forum and gallery. This means posting comments and ideas, participating in or hosting challenges, chats, etc.
   
   TIP: A good thing to remember when commenting on someone’s design in a gallery or on a blog is to make a constructive comment. Don’t do ‘drive by’ commenting such as “beautiful LO” or “nice job.” Really look at the LO and say WHY you like it or kindly suggest something that could be done differently or more effectively.
   


3. Post LOs and projects in 2 or 3 other online galleries, blog about projects/products, and post via Facebook and Twitter.
   
   Standard credits for your gallery postings should include the designer and kit names for the following
   

• Papers
• Elements
• Actions/styles
• Font(s)
• Technique(s) - optional

TIP: Do not link your credits to any designer’s store unless you are posting in their store gallery. This is a common store policy.

Sometimes a new CT member will have a ‘probationary period’ before they’re an official member of the team. This means that for the first couple of months, both you and the designer or store will be seeing how well you work together. They want to know if you’re trustworthy and will do your job on time and not just take your free products and/or share with others (unfortunately, it’s happened before). You may also find that your schedule doesn’t really fit with the CT responsibilities or your style just doesn’t match the kits you’re given to work with. It’s ok to step back and say, “Thanks for the opportunity, but it just isn’t working out right now.”

Before you Apply

Just as you would do when applying for a paying job - do a little prep work.

1. Post samples of your work using their products in your favorite online gallery. This is your portfolio and is very important. Why would a designer want to hire you for their team if you don’t even use their product? Choose a gallery where you have posted most of your work.
   
   Don’t delete those early LOs…even if you don’t like them anymore. Designers want to see a variety of samples and love to see how you’ve progressed as a scrapbook artist.


2. Research the past work of the current CT. When you create your portfolio LOs, don’t copy the styles of the current CT members. Be yourself. Designers want to see your personality shine through your work.
   


3. Be active in the forums and gallery at their store. If there is no store forum or gallery, be active at any other store or general scrapbooking forum and gallery like DST or frequently post comments on the designer’s blog. Designers want to see that you have a track record of participation.
   

Answering the Call

Just because you’ve never been on a CT before or maybe you never seem to get chosen, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply. Some designers even cruise through the galleries to find LOs that ‘speak’ to them and then send out a personal invitation! Remember, some CTs rotate members annually…be patient, do your homework, keep applying.

1. Apply to an official call.

• Check the announcement forum at Digi Shop Talk.
  


• Read the designer’s blogs and Facebook pages.


• Check other CT/DT call web sites
  
  
  • Scrapbook Update
    
    
  • Scrap Calls
    
  
  
  • Scrapscene
    
  
  
  • Just Calls and Crops
    

2. No call for the designer you like right now? Send an e-mail inquiry anyway. Real life happens to all of us and maybe a CT member needs a break or a designer is looking to add another one and just hasn’t gotten around to advertising.
   


3. Be realistic in your choices. Don’t apply if the designer’s style and your style clash. For example, if the designer makes country-kitsch designs and you love grungy, fantasy creations, you probably wouldn’t be a good fit for their CT.

Good Luck!

Ancient Asian Remedies

To prevent age spots: Starting at age fifty, drink the juice of one carrot every day.

(I have a few gallons to catch up on...LOL!)

Urram do Mair

Gaelic for "Honor to the Dead."