Free Software from Google

Google is giving away the new Picasa software -- which allows you to organize and label all your digital photos and scrapbooking images/embellishments etc. You can enhance your photos. It used to sell for $30 but Google purchased the company and is now giving the software away for free.

I haven't used it personally (yet) but have heard good things about Picasa. If you've used it, let me know what you think!

Martha Stewart and Scrapbooking?

Martha Stewart is going to be launching a social network this fall which will provide a place for women to share photos, scrapbooks, recipes and more. There will be home design experts on the site as well providing tips. The network will be part of the MarthaStewart.com site.

The DaVinci Code

I'm not all about the hype of the Da Vinci Code, however I do love a good intriguing and adventure filled movie, and I love most of Tom Hank's movies -- so I'm interested in seeing the film. However when I read the book, I was disturbed that so many people would absolutely love it. I did enjoy the read -- it was well-written, had unexpected twists, and was intriguing. But I could not get past the premise -- that Christ was human and not divine. That is the whole underlying premise of the book. I do not understand how strong Christians can read the book and buy into the fictional premise and think of it as truth.

Understandably Dan Brown is a talented writer, and the subject matter is close to the hearts of many. He weaves a good story -- but that's what it is -- a story. So when I go to church and hear people speculating about the book and the possibility of truth contained in it -- it saddens me that we can believe something just because it has been printed.

I just read a really great article about the Da Vinci code and the falacies it contains, and the deceptive way the adversary works to get us to believe falsehoods. If you have questions, this is a good place to start shedding light.

I'm torn as to whether or not I'll actually see the film. My time is extremely limited, and do I want to pay money to perpetuate the mis-information, or should I pass it up and spend my time doing things which will build my faith rather than initiate questions based on fiction? I haven't decided yet because to me it's clear the work is fiction and it's not based on truth. If you see the film, I would love to get your opinions. It's just a book and just a film -- it shouldn't be a big deal -- but when I have seen the impact the book has had on people who are now questioning their faith in Christ -- "by their fruits ye shall know them"... then I wonder about the motive behind the book. Dan Brown has admitted he has questions about Christianity and he includes his own doubts in his book. As a writer myself, I can see how my personal objectives, feelings, and motives are easily woven into my writing -- it's the way I can get a message across.

I guess it is up to each individual to decide -- The question is: does it bring you closer to Christ, fill you with light and love, and make you want to become a better person, or does it cast doubt, darkness, fears, anxieties, and make you question your faith?

Quote: Focusing Outward

"A life can never be happy that is focused inward. So if you are miserable now, forget your troubles. March right out your door, and find someone who needs you." -- Robert L. Backman (Ensign, November 1985, p. 13.)

Data Recovery

If you have ever lost data on your computer, you know how important it is to get it back. There are companies out there who provide this valuable service. Data Recovery is one such service. Check them out.

Scrapbooking Tools

Scrapbook kits useful tools to help befuddled beginners -- article from the Deseret News.

Kits are a great way for beginners to start, say Jenny Weston, designer and marketing specialist, and Kelly Mooney, publicist, both with Making Memories, a Centerville-based scrapbook-supply company.

"A lot of people freeze up in the paper aisle because they don't know what to put together," says Weston. "Let someone else do it for you. Kits can contain papers, rub-ons and other coordinating embellishments." Then, she says, once you get more confidence, you can start putting together your own combinations.

Another way to get started, says Mooney, is to "lean on idea books. Scrap-lifting — or borrowing ideas that you see — is an encouraged practice."

The following projects are available as kits from Making Memories but could also easily be done on your own. They include things that would be good for home decor as well as scrapbooks, and could be done for yourself or as gifts.

Photo cubes

Supplies needed: Small, square cardboard boxes, patterned papers, coordinating ribbons and embellishments, photographs and glue. (A kit containing three cubes and other supplies costs $10.99.)

Cut squares of paper the size of the sides of the boxes and glue them in place. Attach photographs. Decorate with ribbon, rub-on words, stickers, flowers or other trimmings.

Tip: Make three or four to stack on a table or shelf as a conversation piece. Or they make great gifts for grandparents. Kids can even make cubes themselves.

Decorated picture frames

Supplies needed: Plain cardboard picture frames, ribbons, buckles, buttons and other embellishments. (A kit with frame and embellishments costs $10.50.)

Decorate as desired. One suggestion is to tape a different strip of ribbon on each side. Thread one piece of ribbon through a buckle or button for interest. Rub-on appropriate words to add additional interest and meaning.

Mini-photo books

Supplies needed: Mini 5x7 photo album kits, which come with cover, ribbon lacing and embellishments.

Add your own pictures, decorate with embellishments — and voila! A gift, a brag book or a record of a special event.

Tip: These make fun projects for baby and wedding showers. Leave some pages blank to write messages or to add pictures later on.

A favorite tool

Making Memories Tag Maker ($24.99) comes with rims and templates for making tags of all shapes and sizes.

Using the template, you cut out a tag shape using a photo, paper or other material. Lay it into the correct metal rim and use the tool to "scrunch the metal ends shut."

Tip: Use tags with photos of your kids on gifts. That way, those who can't read know which present is theirs, which adds to the anticipation.

Scrapbooks - Family Stories

Concept driven scrapbooks are creative way to tell family stories - Article from the Deseret News.

One of the hottest scrapbooking trends right now, says Wendy Smedley, creative editor for Simple Scrapbooks magazine, is the concept-driven mini-album. A lot of scrapbookers, she says, "are reactive. And there's nothing wrong with that. They go to the zoo, take pictures to document the trip and put them in an album."

But, she says, another approach is to "think of the story you want to tell and then go take the pictures. It's fun to see how different stories can be told with pictures and words." And they can be done very simply, she says. Here are some of her ideas that can all be done in 6x6-inch or other small albums:

Interview album

Come up with a set of questions to ask your kids: What is your favorite color? What is your favorite thing to do? What do you like best about your mother? Your father? Your sisters or brothers? What is your favorite food? What is your favorite book? What is hard for you do to? What do you like about school? What don't you like? And so on.

Then, put a picture of each child by a summary of his answers, and you have a fun record of your children's views and attitudes.

Flip book

Think of a subject that has two sides. Have each child write their opinions about each subject. Start at the front of the book and put in a picture of each child and his opinion on that subject. Flip the book over and do the same for the other side of the issue.

For example, Smedley has five boys. She asked them each to write the things they like best about having four brothers and the things they like least.

Other topics could include: What I like best/least about winter or summer; What I like about my coach/what I like about my team; What I like about the beach/what I like about the mountains, etc.

Lullaby gift book

This a perfect gift for an expectant mother. Smedley found lyrics for 12 different lullabies. She put the words for one song on a page, and on the opposite page left a space for a picture of the mother and her baby that could be added later, and so on throughout the album. All the mother had to do was add the pictures later.

You could do the same thing with favorite love song lyrics for a wedding or find songs and poems about families or other topics.

One-day book

Document one day in the life of your baby or child. Take pictures at various times throughout the day, recording the times. Use one page for each picture, with the time and perhaps a simple explanation.

Gratitude album

This is a great activity for Thanksgiving but could be done at any time of year to encourage feelings of gratitude. Make one a year, and over the course of a few years, you'll see how attitudes change, says Smedley.

Select some pre-made picture frames with patterns and colors you like and have them spiral-bound so you have two frames facing each other with a blank page in between, then more frames, etc. Then have children (or everyone at Thanksgiving dinner) write what they are thankful for on a small card. Snap photos of all who participate. Glue each photo on a left-hand page and that person's corresponding gratitude card on the right-hand page. Glue frames to the pages, and you have a nice little "thankful" book.

Artwork book

A big challenge for families is saving all the artwork projects kids do in school, says Smedley. She got some divided plastic pages (the kind made for storing baseball cards), went to the copy store and made reduced color copies of the artwork to fit in the page pockets, wrote on the back a little description of what it was and when it was done on each and added ribbon tabs so they could be easily pulled out.

She put the pages in an 8x11 loose-leaf notebook, so more could be added, and mixed in pictures of the kids at the ages they did the work — and now has a record of art projects that is easy to look at and preserves the work in a nice way.

You could also reduce the artwork to fit the pages in a 6x6 or other size album and mix it with pictures.

Accordion-fold book

Buy a pre-folded book or make your own. Decorate each fold with a picture or a pre-printed definition tag or other embellishment around any theme you want. Smedley likes to use some big pictures as well as lots of 1 1/2-inch square pictures for variety. A great gift for grandparents.

Simple Scrapbooking

Innovative ideas for making memories last

By Carma Wadley, Deseret Morning News

You may think it's about cropping and pasting and embellishing. But it's really all about memories. It's about family historians who document the lives and activities of their loved ones.

Is it any wonder that the latest statistics show about one in four American households participates in scrapbooking in some form? Or that scrapbookers now have their own day?

Saturday has been set aside as National Scrapbooking Day, a time to "celebrate and promote the importance of preserving memories," according to the National Scrapbooking Association, which also notes that "scrapbooking is a hobby for everyone because everyone has memories they wish to preserve and even share with others. This common bond is strong, especially among those who add creativity and craft to their precious memories."

To commemorate National Scrapbooking Day, scrapbook stores and suppliers will be offering demonstrations, specials and other activities, including Scrabook USA Expo at the South Towne Expo Center. Check with your local stores or visit www.nationalscrapbookingday.com for ideas.

If you haven't scrapbooked before, or if you are looking for some simple, easy projects to work on, we asked a couple of local designers to share a few of their favorite projects with our readers.

Time Management

I read a great article today in LDS Living Magazine - advice from Benjamin Franklin about time and money.

Four Ways to Convert Time into Money

Ben Franklin believed that time is money, so it may come as a surprise that he also thought it's important to set aside time for leisure activities. He wrote, "Employ thy time well if thou meanest to gain leisure." Erin Barret and Jack Mingo, authors of Ben Franklin's Guide to Wealth (Conari Press) encourage busy people to practice what Franklin preached long ago.

Here are four ways you can save time for leisure enjoyment:

• How much time do you devote to watching television, playing computer games, and surfing the Internet, all of which drain your time and energy? Take back your time and value it for the precious thing that it is, employing it for things that really matter.


• Use your commuting time wisely. If you are within bicycle or walking distance of your work, get out of your car and exercise your way to work. Use carpooling or public transportation instead of sitting in mind-numbing traffic with your hands gripping the steering wheel, using the time to read for pleasure, meditate to balance yourself, or organize your assignments so that your work day is more wisely spent.


• Try not to concentrate on how busy you are, but rather concentrate on your results. After all, a frenzy of activity won’t get you very far if you are shoveling sand with a pitchfork.
  


• Use a “to do” list each day to help you prioritize the most important activities for that day. Next to each entry, assign a number from 1 to 5 with the highest priority being 1. Then re-draft your list so that the most important things are first, and the least important last. Then do them in order, from most important to least. Anything left at the end of the day gets put on tomorrow’s list.

Balance is important. By being as efficient and productive in your free time as you are in your work time, you can get done what you need and want to do and still have time for starting new projects, learning new skills, and setting new goals to keep life interesting.

"If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality, since lost time is never found again." --Benjamin Franklin.

Scrapbooking Expo 2006

Are any of you going to the Scrapbooking Expo 2006 in Salt Lake? I attended last year and had a great time. I even won a prize! But I'm so busy right now I'm thinking I probably won't get there. Just curious if those of you who are attending are going to just crop all day, buy new products, see what's out there, get together with friends, take classes or what. Maybe I'll change my mind at the last minute and still go. Anyway, if you do get to the scrapbooking expo, let me know how it turns out. I always love taking a whole day or two to just scrapbook -- I usually get tons done, rather than trying to fit it in here and there.