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March 1, 2008
From the Helm - Welcome to SSR!
Cap'n Dawn Heath,Publisher
Only 20 days until spring. My friend Bunnie has been providing us with a count down until spring and with good reason...we've had an awful lot of snow this winter for S.E. Wisconsin! This has been one of those winters when I really wished we were visiting these beautiful countries! Take a look at these next two photos of the beautiful beaches in the Philippines provided by http://www.tripadvisor.com/. Aren't these beaches just...well, peaceful? Considering the difficult times in The Philippines over the past few years this is just remarkable. What a lovely country to visit. If you plan to visit I highly recommend that you check with the U.S. Department of State first. There are certain islands that it is recommended that U.S. citizens avoid if possible.
Well, far be it from me to keep you from sinking your teeth into this brand new issue of SSR! Let me share all the fabulous projects we are showcasing this month!
Cap'n Dawn
Our online community is completely optional, SSR is still free and available for you 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You do not need to join the various groups we have to enjoy SSR we just like to encourage everyone to do so as it is a lot of fun! We have also just created a Facebook group! This group is literally brand new but if you have a Facebook account we'd love to see you there!! I'm new at these groups and I'm looking for all advice and ideas you may have to have fun with these groups! I think I'm kind of overwhelmed by them?
Our Designer’s Challenge sponsor this month is a digital challenge sponsored by Polka Dot Potato! Ashley and Ben Smith started Polka Dot Potato a digital kit site with choices from many fabulous designers for you to purchase. Our own Yvonne is one of PDP featured designers and she's in great company with Donna Downey, Jeni Cantril, Amanda Lee and the list goes on! PDP also offers printing services, free templates, classes in the Dallas/Ft Worth area, online lessons, a monthly newsletter, a blog, a message board and monthly kit offerings! The design to the right was created by Aparna!
Here is the picture from February's contest:
The winning quote is
"I've got my Eye on that Dasiy".
Submitted by Christal!
Congratulations Chris!
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 Art DeClassified for sponsoring the March Caption Contest! We at SSReflections appreciate our sponsors so much!
Donalda has been busy organizing such awesome swaps on the Ezine Yahoo! Group. The swap featured right now is from the Round Robin Puzzle Swap from this past February. The puzzle piece featured to the right was created by Cheryl Losieczka! 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!
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!
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!
I am pleased as punch to announce two new crewmembers! Please join me in welcoming Laura Lou Bashlor on the Digital Deck. Laura Lou and I used to be design team members on another ezine many years ago so it's wonderful to be able to work with Laura Lou again! It's with great pleasure to share with you that Michelle Weaver has joined our Altered Arts Deck! Michelle and Laura Lou are wonderful additions to the crew so please take a minute and write to them and welcome them aboard SSR!
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 and Laura Lou have teamed up to share layouts that were done with paper and digitally! Aparna is doing the paper layouts and Laura Lou is doing a digital version! This is a very cool idea and I know you are going to love this! The layout featured to the right is one of the layouts Aparna has created.
Kelli is sharing an ongoing project with us this month! Kelli collects recipes from the internet and her project is a recipe storage box with special dividers for each category! This is such a great idea for your own kitchen!
On our Digital Deck this month:
Laura Lou has taken a fresh challenge this month by creating a digital layout using Aparna's paper layout for inspiration. The finished product is just fabulous! You can see Laura Lou's layout as it is to the right!
Yvonne has created some Wall Art that is absolutely fantastic! Yvonne was asked to create a special guitar collage for a friend's music studio and the finished project is just fabulous! I can't wait to see the art framed and complete! Once again Yvonne has the wow factor in her designs!
Now it's time for the Stamping Art Deck!
Cindy Seabright is sharing the process for creating her musical interlude collage! This project will definitely inspire you to create your own musical collage! Please share what you create with us on the reader's gallery!
Flo is teaching us second-generation images and masking. These are fun and simple techniques that can be used with any style of stamp. One of Flo's fantastic samples is featured to the right!
Judy's review this month is on "Board Book Play: Easy Techniques from A to Zis" by contributing artists and published by C & T Publishing. The techniques in this book will inspire a quilter, doll maker, scrapbooker and bead enthusiast. Even if you are a beginner, you will find many projects easy to do. The samples that Judy has created to inspire you are just gorgeous!
Now for the news on the Altered Arts Deck!
Michelle's first feature with SSR this month highlights one way to use junk mail. Michelle took some very pretty pieces of junk mail, shredded them, and them glued them back together to make a collage of images. The pretty wall hanging to the right was created from recycled junk mail! How's THAT for inspiration?
Cindy is back! She's sharing a special gallery of artwork she created for display at the Worldwin Papers booth during CHA last month! Everything Cindy created was made out of Worldwin Paper! You'll have to agree the designs are just incredible to look at!
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 layout featured to the right was created by Becky Chabot 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!
This month is full of special occasions. We are celebrating Easter on March 23, St. Patrick's Day on the 17th, we move the clocks forward for Daylight Savings Time on the 9th, it's my birthday ;-) and I'll be 29 again next week...and the first day of spring is the 21st...Yes, we're counting down the days! I don't know if you are aware but SSR sends out a bi-monthly newsletter, the 1st and the 15th of each month. Here is the link for the SSR Newsletter sign up. The newsletter is free 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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