7 Days of Being Thankful: Day 3

I have to admit that I'm finding it very hard to be positive right now.  We had a very difficult afternoon and early evening with David.  I feel emotionally and physically drained.  But I can find something to be thankful for, even in the midst of all of this.  I am thankful for having the patience and endurance that I need to deal with the challenges and difficulties that I encounter in my life.  At least, for the most part.

7 Days of Being Thankful: Day 2

Today I'm remembering how thankful I am for the special family members in my life.  We're a small group now, but we are strong.  We've been through a lot together, and we have been there for each other through it all.  

7 Days of Being Thankful: Day 1

Since Thanksgiving is a week from tomorrow, I thought I would reflect on my life and "count my blessings."  I sometimes get caught up in everyday negativity, and I think it's important to pause and think about all of the good things I have in my life.  This may turn into a Gratitude Journal of sorts, and it may not.  But I think it's important for me to do this, no matter what I decide to do.

Today I am thankful for my family.  Not one of us is perfect, but we make it work.  We love each other, and we support each other.  I have a husband who has been my source of strength and encouragement for not only the 24+ years that we have been married, but also during the years before our marriage.  I have a son who has overcome many challenges and difficulties with humor and love.  I have a daughter who is not only a "Mini Me," but who is also talented, smart, and beautiful both inside and out.  Yeah, we're pretty O.K.

6 Handy Programs/Apps for Scrapbookers

How often do you use your computer for your scrapbooking?  Did you know that there are some very useful programs for scrapbookers that are easy to acquire and cost little to no money?  Here are six of my favorites that I use almost every time I scrapbook.

1.  Microsoft Word:  While the full version of Word isn’t free, most computers come with Microsoft Word Starter already installed.  This free version is more than adequate for basic word processing jobs.  I use it for journaling, titles, labels, lists, and some printable embellishments.  It is even possible to arrange a full sheet of photos in a Word document and print them out without using a graphics program.

2.  Photo Sheet (Photility):  Another free program that I find very useful is Photo Sheet.  This is a small but very helpful little program.  With it I can print two 3” x 4” photos on a 4” x 6” sheet with hardly any effort at all.  I use this option quite often for Project Life, as well as when I just want some smaller photos for my other layouts.  Photo Sheet also offers a number of other handy page and grid designs.  You can find out more about this program, as well as download it, at http://www.photility.com/photosheet/.

 3.  Picasa:  This free program is owned by Google and offers quite a bit for traditional scrapbookers, digital scrapbookers, and anyone who wants to share his/her photos online.  It is a photo organizer, image viewer, and image editor.   I frequently use it to create photo collages for my scrapbooks like the ones below.  You can read more about Picasa and download it here:  http://picasa.google.com/. 

    

4.  Photoshop Elements (Adobe):  This versatile photo editing program costs around $119.99 ($79.99 to upgrade from an earlier version), and I use it several times a week.  Not only do I edit my photos with it, but it also helps me get the most out of digital scrapbooking elements, create digital photo collages, and print my photos at home.  I can get near-professional results when I use PSE to adjust the lighting, sharpness, and brightness of my photos.  I also crop, enlarge, and print my photos in non-standard sizes.  You can purchase and download PSE atwww.adobe.com. 

5.  Day One Journaling App (Bloom Built):  I Love this app!!  As a Project Lifer, this handy little journaling app is invaluable to me.  I can take a picture on my iPhone, add some journaling, and have everything backed up on Dropbox.  Then I can print everything from my phone using my wireless printer.  This app works with the iPhone and iPad, and it costs $4.99.  It’s the best $4.99 I’ve ever spent on an app.  You can purchase and download Day One from the iTunes store.

6.  Die-Cutting Software:  There are several different programs available right now that work with electronic die-cutting machines.  Some work only with a particular machine, while others are compatible with more than one machine.  I use Sure Cuts A Lot (Craft Edge), and I use my die-cutting machine on almost every layout that I make.  I cut titles from my computer’s fonts, shapes, journaling boxes, and other digital elements.  I never have to worry about running out of letters, and I can cut them in almost any size I want.  Other die-cutting programs include Make the Cut and Silhouette Studio (Silhouette America).  They all accomplish basically the same tasks, and they are relatively inexpensive (approximately $49.99-$59.99).  You can find electronic die-cutting machines in theScrapbook.com store.

These are only a few of the many software programs/apps that can be used in scrapbooking.   While not all of them are free, many are inexpensive and all are well worth their cost.  Since this is Computer Learning Month, why not give some of these handy apps a try when you create your next layout?  “Appy” scrapping!

Halloween Spider Web Earrings

Hi there everyone!  Glad you could stop by today.  This is just a quick post to show you the new Halloween earrings that are available on my Etsy site.  If you post a comment here by 11:00 p.m. (EST) tomorrow night (October 21, 2013), you will be entered into a drawing for FREE SHIPPING on any item in my store.  Here are a few photos of the new Halloween earrings:

DIY Gift Bag: Easy, Quick, and Inexpensive!

Here's a video (not mine) that shows how to use 12 x 12 (or other size) paper to make your own gift bags.  Very cool!

And here is the bag I made using two 12 x 12 sheets of scrapbook paper that I had in my stash.  I added some tissue paper that I cut with my Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors and a few other embellishments.  It was so easy!  Have fun making your own unique gift bags!

Attention-Grabbing School Layouts

Please click on the link to read my latest article for Scrapbook.com.  Enjoy and Happy Scrapping!