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April 1, 2008
From the Helm - Welcome to SSR!
Cap'n Dawn Heath,Publisher
Welcome aboard a brand new issue of SSR! We are visiting the Oceania countries this month so I thought I would share some facts with you on Oceania from the World Atlas. Oceania (aka the South Pacific) is the smallest continent but, is one of the most diverse and fascinating areas on the planet. A large percentage of geography experts now consider the long-established continent of Australia to be more accurately defined as Australia/Oceania. Collectively it then combines all of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, as well as the thousands of coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific Ocean, including the Melanesia and Polynesia groups. Oceania also includes Micronesia, a widely scattered group of islands that run along the northern and southern edges of the Equator. This would include Guam and Midway, Saipan, Bora Bora, Tahiti, Fiji as well as the Solomon Islands. We've visited some of the islands included before but we thought it would be fun to explore more of this area as we need some sun!! I don't know about you but I'm ready for some fresh air and sunshine that does not include -20 degree temps and snow! So, let's think warm and enjoy the tropics!
New Zealand is also part of Oceania and it just seems that this is a perfect time to spend time in New Zealand. Our very own Wendy Pettifer (pictured above) starts her radiation therapy this month as part of her treatment for breast cancer. Our thoughts, love and prayers are with Wendy as she begins her therapy. So, you see...there is a method to our madness as we virtually travel the world! Please keep Wendy in your prayers as she comes to your thoughts!
Cap'n Dawn
Our Designer’s Challenge sponsor this month is I Brake For Stamps! I Brake for Stamps is also the home of Rosebud Rubber Stamps, Ink Blocks Rubber Stamps, The Merry Stamper, and Designs Ink'd images. We also carry the Stampinback line from The Netherlands. They are located in Sun City, AZ and their website has a little for everyone! The design featured to the right was created by Robin Willis!
Here is the picture from March's contest:
The winning quote is
"Putting on a wide smile she tried to remember if she had put her knickers on!"
Submitted by Evelyn, Perth, W. Australia
Congratulations Evelyn!
Now, if you'd like to see the March Caption Contest card, you'll have to visit Cindy's Caption Contest page! We can't wait to hear your captions! All entries must be sent to our yahoo group, just click the link below to join and be part of the fun and have a few laughs! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SSReflectionsezine/
Special thanks to Hearts In Touch for sponsoring the April Caption Contest! We at SSReflections appreciate our sponsors so much! We love you Frances!
Donalda has been busy organizing such awesome swaps on the Ezine Yahoo! Group. The swap featured right now is from the Easter ATC's from this past March. The ATC's featured to the right was created by Sandra Christen! Congratulations to all the ladies who participated on a job well done! If you'd like to participate in one of Donalda's swaps all you have to do is join the Ezine Yahoo! Group and sign up! We'd love to show your work too! We'll update the swaps gallery mid-month with the most recent swap images if possible so we can share them with you so be sure to come back! Donalda is having surgery on her hand towards the end of April so we will have a couple of our crew pinch hitting for Donalda during her recovery time! Our prayers are with you Donalda for a successful surgery!
As you finish reading this jam packed issue of S.S. Reflections, please make your way to our Making Waves page and visit our advertisers! We have revamped the page to make it more accessible to you and easier for you when you are shopping! Some of our Advertisers have wonderful specials and announcements just for you! We have also changed our COMM policy on the Ezine Yahoo! Group and the Forum Message Board! We are now allowing COMM's from all vendors on the Ezine Yahoo! Group and message board on Mondays!
S.S. Reflections: SSR has created a store directory listing for you and if you don't see your favorite store listed, be sure to send them our way! We have two separate directories for easy access to anyone interested which includes an alphabetical store listing and location listing. Please contact Cap'n Dawn at info@ssreflections.com for more information. There is a minimal fee to be included in our directory program of only $100 for one full year! SSR keeps it's costs low as we are committed to supporting the small business!
SSR is celebrating it's 5th anniversary in just a few months. We're already planning some great activities for our big celebration! 5 years is a long time on the internet and we've consistently provided the best information on the internet with an amazing crew of designers. SSR is NOT a non-profit business but we promised to keep our ad rates down so the small business could afford to advertise on a quality magazine. The industry is changing. Manufacturers are creating more and more choices for you to buy and it's harder and harder for the small business to keep up with the demand for the latest products and that effects their advertising budget. SSR is a free magazine for you to enjoy and that isn't going to change. We will continue to offer SSR free of charge to you, our faithful readers, but we will accept donations to help offset the operating expenses. We have not set an amount to donate. You can donate $1 or more that is totally up to you via paypal. Here is the donate button:
Everyone's Secretary is the answer for small businesses! Now you have the option to only pay by the hour for needed office assistance. Everyone's Secretary only charges for the work you require. Whether you need two hours a week or two hours a month, you only pay for what you need!
This is a confidential and personalized service. Please email Dawn at esecretary@charter.net or call 262-374-1491 for rate information.
Hearts in Touch HIT has started a new "Free Stamps" program. For every full sheet of stamps you order Frances will enclose a CIRCLE DIE CUT. When you get 10 circles, mail them back to Frances with the name of the free sheet of rubber you want. That's it!
YOU MUST EMAIL FRANCES at fnaeve@heartsintouch.com TO SIGN UP FOR THIS BRAND NEW PROGRAM!
Be sure to join the HIT Yahoo! group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartsInTouchRubberStamps/ and keep up to date on all the new products coming along very soon and meet a lot of wonderful crafting friends.
We also have free, online classes at the HIT website chat room. Anyone is welcome to join.
PaperArtsy: New from PaperArtsy this past spring are the mini stamps. These are on EZ mount and perfect for ATC's, small gift cards and 'inchie' art.
Also new from the 'Urban Snapshots' Stamp Collection is the Fancy Dress series and Wrought Iron series of 4 plates in each of these families. Check out www.paperartsy.co.uk
Stamp and Scrap Canada: Stamp and Scrap Canada: Read our latest newsletter online - http://www.stampandscrapcanada.com/papercraftnewsletter.html
See what's new in the shop (items added regularly) - http://www.stampandscrapcanada.com/new.html
We've got a HUGE clearance sale going on - 25 to 50% off on lots of items (most are 40% off) - http://www.stampandscrapcanada.com/sale.html
And if you're buying regular priced products here's a couple ecoupon codes you can use. Type the ecoupon code in the text box on the shopping cart page.
To get $5 off an order that includes $40 @ regular prices type: ssreflections5
To get $15 off $100 @ regular prices type: ssreflections15
If you would like to see your company spotlighted please contact us at info@ssreflections.com for information!
Be sure to check our sponsors websites often for monthly specials! Remember, without the VIP sponsors we wouldn't have S.S. Reflections for you to enjoy!
Would you like to be part of the best online magazine on the internet? Are you interested in hanging out with the best designers? What about being part of the fun we have on SSR? If you are interested in joining the SSR crew please send 5 samples of your work and a sample of your writing. Just write as though it will be your first article on SSR! You can write about a product you love, a subject that means a lot to you, or even using a color theme or a favorite technique. Send your writing sample in Word format (preferred) and your designs to editor@ssreflections.com
Please size your jpgs to 475 pixels (the longest side) so it is easier to send through email. You need to be aware before you apply that if you are chosen to be a member of the crew you agree to commit to our deadline for your submissions each month.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email me at editor@ssreflections.com and I will do all I can to help! If you applied once before don't hesitate to apply again.
We've shared all the exciting features on the Editorial Deck above so we will no longer include it in the "News On Deck" feature of the Welcome page.
Let's start with the Scrapping Deck:
Aparna has created a map collage for you this month! Well, she actually created it for her daughter in honor of a trip she had taken but let me tell you...it's a real honor that Aparna is sharing this with all of us! This is such a wonderful project!
Kelli is sharing her fabulous shadow box of Myrtle Beach with all of us! Just wait until you see this project! Okay, I can't wait to share it with you so just take a look to the right and you'll see just one portion of it! See, I told you it was fabulous didn't I?
On our Digital Deck this month:
Laura Lou is having fun in the sun while she is in Florida! She has created a wonderful digital layout similar to Aparna's paper layout! Can you tell the difference? You got it...they are THAT good!
Yvonne is finger painting in a fun way by incorporating it into a great wall hanging. Both of Yvonne's boys have always loved painting and Yvonne's house isn't much different from the rest of us by frequently having artwork hanging up for all to see! Well, Yvonne has created a fabulous new way to feature the beloved work of art our little ones create.
Now it's time for the Stamping Art Deck!
Cindy Seabright has created a very large feature for you this month so I want to warn you if you are on dial up that this feature will take a little while to download. Cindy has done her final feature with SSR on the Titanic and she just got carried away with her research she was having so much fun! You are going to love Cindy's fabulous memorial candle on the Titanic!
Flo has created gorgeous art using Slide Mailer Photo Frames! Flo chose a beach theme just to keep us in our tropical theme as she created these beautiful frames for a friend of hers!
Judy's review this month is on "Making Greeting Cards with Creative Materials" by MaryJo McGraw. If you like to experiment with new materials and products, you may find this an excellent book to add to your library! You can be sure that if Judy is reviewing it, it's a book you'll want for yourself! Just check out the beautiful artwork Judy created!
Now for the news on the Altered Arts Deck!
Michaela's back! We've missed her! She's back with a fantastic altered spring break feature! Doesn't that sound like fun? Just take a look to the right for a sample of what Michaela has in mind for you this month!
Michelle has altered a chipboard book for her project this month! She's had tons of fun creating this fabulous book with lots of great images!
Robin is also back after taking a month off! Robin has done a review on the Stewart Superior and some of their latest products! You will be spoiled for choice with all the information that Robin is sharing with you this month! Stewart Superior has always provided crafters with innovative products to use and they have not let us down. Robin has created some beautiful projects to showcase the Stewart Superior products!
Our Interactive Reader's Gallery! is not just for showcasing your scanned images, its also for your photos and your digital layouts! We want to see everything that you are proud of! So, come on board and share what you are most proud of! The string art card featured to the right was created by Janet Burditt and shared on the Reader's Gallery mentioned above. We hope that you are inspired by all that was shared this month by both our professional designers and by our faithful readers who participate on the Yahoo! Ezine Group, and the Interactive Reader's Gallery!
April showers are here! I don't mind as I'm already seeing shoots coming up and I know that the rain means I will have green grass soon! Soccer starts this week but the fields are so wet that the kids haven't been able to get out and practice so the first game may have to be canceled. If you live in Wisconsin please get out and vote today (April 1)! Your vote counts and it really does makes a difference! Let's hope that the weather is nice so we can get out and vote! Well, I've been rather long winded yet again so I'll finish off by asking you to keep Wendy and Donalda in your prayers this month as they both have trials to overcome. Just one last thing...please pass on the link to sign up for the SSR Newsletter!. The newsletter is free just as the SSR Ezine is and it keeps you up to date on all things related to SSR! So, sign up and you too can be in the loop!
Thank you once again for bringing SSR into your home. I hope you are able to find the time to sit down with a fresh cup of your favorite drink and read your favorite online ezine...S.S. Reflections!
Calm sailing,
Cap'n Dawn
publisher@ssreflections.com
Publisher
Reflections Publishing Group
http://dawntheath.blogspot.com/
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