Here is a sample of what I did.  I choose a photo that I took recently…and here is my gorgeous color palette.  I love it!

If you want to try something else, just click Edit and then you can upload another photo.  Then click on CREATE.  Here is another example of one I generated.

Simple scrumptious!!!!

It also gives you the option to download these swatches in Adobe Swatch Exchange (ASE) format for Photoshop or compatible applications.  In other words, it puts them in the correct format so that you can upload them to your swatches palette in your Photoshop or other graphics software programs.

Go to http://bighugelabs.com/colors.php and try it.  It’s fun and it’s free!

I needed a Thank You card and I wanted to play with the Silhouette HD cutting machine, so here’s what I came up with!

Supplies:

• white cardstock
• patterned paper from Hot Off the Press
• Silhouette Popup Designs:
  • Paisley Pop-up
  • Pop-up Thank You Card
• Sticky Thumb Glue
• Fiskars Paper Edgers Scissors
• Invitation-size white envelope

Instructions:

1. First I cut out the two Silhouette pop-up designs on patterned paper.  I folded the Thank You pop-up on the score lines and adhered it to a folded cardstock card.
2. I cut the other part of the Thank You pop-up cut-out in half and adhered it to the other sides of the folded cardstock card.
3. Next I cut a strip of a coordinating patterned paper with scalloped scissors and adhered it to the front of the card.
4. I also added the Paisley Pop-up to the front of the card and curled up the pop-ups.
5. I created some WordArt on my computer using Photoshop CS3 and printed it on pink paper.
6. I cut around it with the scalloped scissors.  Then I used a scrap piece of the patterned paper but turned it around to the white side.  I put it behind the scalloped wordart and cut it out a little large.  Then it was adhered to the front of the card.
7. I also cut a scrap piece of the pink paper into an angled shape that fit inside the envelope, adhered it to the flap, and now I have a matching envelope for my card!
8. Now for a personal message and I’m ready to send it off!

One of the things that separates professional photographers from amateurs is that they know how to get tack sharp (as sharp as can be) images.  The professionals know that you can do everything else right, but if your photograph is out of focus, it’s simply not top quality.  What else do the pro’s know?  They know the value of a good tripod.

The first tripod I ever bought was the cheapest one I could find at Wal-Mart (I was a poor student in those days, and didn’t know the difference). I think it cost me about $20.  It was so lightweight that if I had my camera balanced on top, and a strong breeze blew, it would topple over.  The legs were impossible for me to raise and lower by myself- my hands simply weren’t strong enough to turn the levers.  I would get blisters trying.  It took a good 2+ minutes to even attach the camera, because it didn’t come with a removable plate.  The tripod made my life miserable, and I can’t imagine why I put up with it as long as I did.

Then something amazing happened.  My husband bought me a Really. Nice. Tripod.  It was a Manfrotto by Bogen, and once I tried it, I knew I could never go back.

It was solid.  It absolutely would not accidentally tip over.  (No more worries about ‘death by tripod’ for my beloved camera).  I could raise and lower the legs easily and they would lock into place.  It came with a quick-release plate, so putting my camera on and taking it off took only 1 second. It had a pistol grip ball head.  That means I just squeeze a lever and I can move my camera in any direction- tip it left, right, forward, backwards- and when I have it where it needs to be I simply let go of the lever and it locks into place.  It was tripod heaven.

It still is tripod heaven, in fact, because 9 years later I am still using the same one.  And I still love it just as much.  The extra sharpness I get in my photographs makes a big difference.  It’s great to have a photo shoot of a squirmy toddler, and know that even if he doesn’t sit still for a second of it, I can use my tripod and camera settings to get ‘tack sharp’ pictures of him anyway. And that is a beautiful thing.

Have you ever been asked to send someone a screen shot but didn’t know how?  Or, when you did find the PrtScn button, you didn’t know what to do with it after that?

Well, help is on the way.  I found an awesome prgram that is free and so easy to use.  You are going to love this!

Gadwin PrintScreen lets you capture images from your computer screen. For example, you can capture the entire screen or choose the area that you want to capture.  You can capture the contents of the screen with a single keystroke. The captured screen can then be sent to the printer, or saved to disk as a file in 6 different graphics file formats. The hot key defaults to the PrintScreen key, but you may also define other keys to initiate a capture. Gadwin PrintScreen allows you to e-mail the captured images as well!  Visit the company’s Web site at http://www.Gadwin.com.

(I added the arrows and word bubbles in my Photoshop program.)

Here’s a video to show you from start to finish how easy this is!

I discovered a bulk supply ink system that will make you think you died and went to ink heaven!  With this system, ink costs are no longer an issue.  This system feeds your printer from a large external tank using surgical tubing.  Then your printer is fed ink through an I.V. system. No more worries about costly ink cartridges again!

Clear Choice Distributing (CCD) let me review the Epson R1400 and the Epson Artisan 800 All-in-One Copy/Fax/Printer.  They both print out the most amazing color photos.  The bulk supply ink system comes attached to the side of the printer and feeds into the cartridges.  When it comes to refilling them, you just use a syringe and fill the outside containers.

Take a look at this….with this ink system you can print for less at home (includes price of paper, too!):

• 4″x6″ photo . . . . 5 cents
• 8-1/2″X11″ photo . . . 15 cents
• 12″x12″ Scrapbook pages . . . . $1.40

CCD offers OEM quality refill ink for your Brother, Canon and Epson printers.  Their ink meets or exceeds the original manufactured specifications.  The Bulk Ink comes in convenient 100ml bottles.  You can purchase the printers with the ink system already installed.  You can also purchase the bulk ink 100ml bottles for only $15.99 each.  Wow!!  What an amazing deal.

In addition, CCD offers great prices on 12″x12″ and 8-1/2″x11″ scrapbook matte finish paper, photo paper, canvas gloss ink jet paper, printable clear film transparency, printable vinyl adhesive matte, and printable iron-on heat transfer paper.  You can call Paul at (801) 695-0526 or email him at ccdpauls@aol.com for more information.

Check it out now!  This would make a GREAT gift for yourself.

You deserve to save money!