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(Article) - Easter Scrapbooking Ideas

Jorbins.com — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:36:17 GMT

Easter is a great time to capture family photographs for scrapbooking. Even if you don't scrapbook, planning your picture taking ahead of time ensures you won't miss any of these great family memories. No family traditions? Then this is a great time to start!

Here are some Easter photograph ideas for scrapbooking:

Photograph spring flowers in bloom. Daffodils and tulips will make a colorful contrast to your other photographs.

Have your kids help you make Easter cookies or an Easter cake. Snap a picture of them working in the kitchen and then make sure to take a picture of the finished product. We made a layer cake and arranged it on a thick piece of cardboard covered with aluminum foil. It was lemon cake with lemon filling and pink frosting. We decorated it with store-bought Easter candy. Around the base of the cake we arranged Easter grass and added chocolate eggs and peeps for decoration. It made a great picture!

Gingerbread houses aren't just for Christmas! Make a gingerbread house and decorate it for Easter with pastel colors and lots of Easter candy. The possibilities are limitless.

If your family attends Easter church services, make sure to get a picture of your girls in their Easter dresses. Dressing up is a great excuse to take a picture.

Coloring Easter eggs never gets old, whatever the age of your kids! They never get tired of showing you how creative they are. Join in on the fun and then take a picture of the finished product.

Easter egg hunts are also fun for the whole family. Take some good action pictures and get a picture of your kids with their Easter baskets.

Easter dinners are a great time to take family pictures. It's a good time to take pictures of relatives you don't often see, and fun to get pictures of the family laughing and enjoying a meal together. Take pictures of any of the good food you want to remember later.

Have fun picture taking, and have a happy Easter!

Creative Homemaking
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

Filed In: Crafts and Hobbies | Crafts | Scrapbooking

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(Article) - Kid's Handmade Sachet Craft Project

Jorbins.com — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:10:32 GMT

I don't know about the rest of you parents but my daughter loves to do craft projects of almost any kind. I am always trying to find simple enough ones that she can do primarily by herself that are fun, practical, and inexpensive.

She is currently in the process of making sachets. Some of them will be turned into car fresheners with a bit of ribbon added to them. We have both had fun finding pretty material and wonderfully smelling potpourri to fill them with. We have raided scrap boxes and remnant aisles for our material "treasures"

How To Make:

Materials:

fabric cut into approximately 5 inch squares (2 for each sachet)
fabric glue
potpourri
yarn, string, ribbon etc.. (If you want to turn them into car fresheners)

Directions:

What we do is glue 3 sides of the 5 inch squares together, sealing them inward for a full 1/2 inch or so. Then let them dry thoroughly.

Then we stuff it with potpourri and seal the 4th side the same way. Let dry again.

Use pinking shears to trim the edges to keep them from unraveling and to finish off the look.

After it is done you can further decorate it if you choose to.

Additional tip: We have found it is easier to seal the 4th side if we glue part of it initially and just leave a small opening in the middle to insert the potpourri into.

Filed In: Crafts and Hobbies | Crafts | Crafts For Kids Or The Whole Family

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(Article) - 50 Ideas to Get Organized and Enjoy Your Scrapbooking Hobby

Jorbins.com — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:05 GMT

Scrapbooking is a wonderful hobby! Besides being relaxing and fun, it also allows you to be creative and to spend quality time with your family and friends. Plus, it results in a storybook of lifelong memories.

One very important element of scrapbooking is getting it all organized. This includes, but is not limited to:

Storing all of your supplies in an organized fashion so they can be found instantly when you need them.
Remembering what supplies to pick up at the store, and eliminating duplicate purchases.
Finding time to research new and creative ways to spruce up your scrapbooks.
Finding enough time to enjoy the art of scrapbooking in your busy life.

TELL A STORY

Plan your photos, before you shoot. Instead of taking random shots of someone standing here, or someone else sitting there, tell a story. For example, let's say it's Halloween. You may plan on taking four photos of your child: on the hayride taking him/her to the pumpkin field. looking for a pumpkin. finding a pumpkin. with the carved pumpkin later.

GREAT PHOTOS

Photos for your scrapbooks can be extra nice if you take a little bit of time to learn some basic photography. Visit www.kodak.com for a quick photography tutorial. Getting organized has a lot to do with preparation and this site is filled with helpful tips and ideas.

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN

Organized documentation is important for the serious scrapbooker. The main goal is to eliminate future questions such as "Who or what is that?", "Where and when was this photo taken?", and so on. Document photos as you're taking them, so you'll know exactly what is on each roll of film. That way you'll be prepared when you're ready to organize the photos in your scrapbooks.

TAKE CARE OF THAT UNDEVELOPED FILM

If you find rolls of film around your house that are ready to go to the developer, bring them today. You may consider mailing all of your film to a supplier such as www.mysticcolorlab.com so you don't have to spend time dropping off film or picking up photos. Simply mail your film out, and you'll get your photos back in the mail a week later. From now on, always get your film developed as soon as you take the used rolls out of your camera.

STORING PHOTOGRAPHS

Once your photos are developed, you need a place to store them until you're ready to put them in your scrapbook. Keep them separated by year or event, in Ziplock bags. Label each bag with a number, and put a corresponding number on your Documentation Form. Then, store them in a photo box. Keep the box in a dry, cool place to protect your photos until you're ready to put the photos into your scrapbook.

ORGANIZING BOXES OF PHOTOS

If you have boxes of photos that span from the beginning of the 1900's to now, it's time to start getting them organized. Schedule a day and time to begin sorting through them and stick with your appointment when the day rolls around. Get your kids, or friends, to help out. Begin by making piles, categorized by event or year. If you don't know the exact year, at least sort them by decade. This may take a little while, but once everything is separated, scrapbooking your photos will be much easier and more pleasant. Once they're all sorted, store your photographs as mentioned above.

WORK BACKWARDS

If you're planning to scrapbook lots of photos from way back, start with the most recent photos you have, and work backwards. Chances are, you have a journal describing recent photos, and even if you don't, you can probably recall the details more easily. Older photos--the ones that you don't have a journal for--will take a little more thinking.

BABY STEPS

If your scrapbooking hobby seems like a colossal job to you, it's not going to be fun. Don't feel like you have to put ALL of your photos into scrapbooks. You can always put the majority of your photos in acid-free photo albums or photo boxes where they will be safe. Choose a small set of photos to begin scrapbooking. Once you're done with this small set, you can then decide whether you want to dig into your photo albums or photo boxes and continue scrapbooking them, or leave those photos where they are, and simply scrapbook any new photos in the future.

DOUBLE PRINTS

Double prints will do you no good if they're just sitting in your photo box taking up space. Do something with them. Perhaps send them to someone who is in the photograph. It's a great way to keep in touch. Or, pass the doubles onto your young children who may like to create their own scrapbooks. It's a great way for them to learn your beloved hobby and decide if they would like it to be a hobby of their own.

RELATED STUFF

Sometimes, for the purpose of creatively decorating your scrapbook, you may wish to keep tickets, brochures, maps, postcards, and so on, that are related to a particular trip or event. Use manila file folders or catalog envelopes for this purpose. Label the folder/envelope so that you know which photos/Documentation Form it corresponds to. File these until they're ready to be used.

KEEPING IT ALL TOGETHER

Already have a pretty good idea of stickers, diecuts, etc. that you're planning to use with a particular set of photographs? Keep them in the same Ziplock bag with the photos until you're ready to put them into your scrapbook. This way, everything will be in one place and ready to use.

STICKERS AND SHAPES

Stickers and punched shapes can be kept in acid-free sheet protectors, plastic baseball card sheets, business card sheets, or even Ziplock bags that are 3-hole punched. Each sheet should be categorized and labeled by theme: birthday, Christmas, Halloween, wedding, springtime, etc. Insert these sheets into a 3-ring binder. If you have a large number of stickers and shapes, you may want to use index dividers labeled with general categories. For example, a general HOLIDAY category, may hold Easter, Christmas/Hanukkah, Halloween, etc., a general SEASONS category, may hold Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring, and so on.

TINY STUFF

For very tiny diecuts and other small items, consider storing then in empty film canisters. The clear ones are best, but if you only have opaque ones, simply stick a label--or the actual diecut attached with a piece of tape-- on the canister indicating what is inside. Baby food jars serve the same purpose well.

PAPER

Where do you keep all of that cool paper until you're ready to use it? You can get a plastic, portable filing container--research its composition to assure archival safety--that holds hanging file folders. Label the hanging files by theme or color. You may want to place a manila file folder into each hanging file folder, to keep your papers from curling. Or, you may buy file folder pockets or sheet protectors that fit into a 3-ring binder and store your papers inside each pocket, categorized and labeled. By the way, be very careful not to store acid-free paper with other paper.

STORAGE CONTAINERS

Do a little bit of research and purchase a scrapbooking organizer, which will hold papers, supplies, etc. There are many products on the market that can help you keep it all together. Many office supply stores carry six-drawer organization stations. They're vertical and have 6 see-through drawers of equal size. Each drawer can be designated for a different purpose--papers, templates/diecuts, stickers, etc. Plus, they have wheels, which makes them very easy to transport from one room to another. Or, if you often bring your scrapbooking supplies outside of your home, such as to a friend's house, use a portable system that isn't too heavy or cumbersome, and comes with a handle.

STENCILS

Put your stencils/templates into sheet protectors that can be purchased at any office supplies store. Then insert them into a 3-ring binder for easy access. By the way, you can store two templates in one sheet protector with a piece of paper in between each--white or colored depending on the color of your template. This will make it easier to see the designs and eliminate them from catching onto each other.

SUPPLY CADDY

If you always scrapbook at home, use a kitchen utensil caddy with a number of divided compartments, like those you normally keep tall kitchen spoons, ladles, and spatulas in. The ones that spin will keep everything you need at your fingertips.

HANG IT UP

If you're lucky enough to have a room specifically designated for your scrapbooking hobby, hang a large pegboard above your work area. You can then attach scissors, templates, crimpers, rulers, stencils and more, all within easy sight and reach. In addition, you might hang a small ledge or shelf nearby, to store all of your corner rounders, photo corners, and so on. If you prefer everything out in the open, this system will work like a charm.

RUBBER STAMPS

Store rubber stamps in shallow, plastic containers, a rubber stamping organizer, or a plastic organizer with shallow drawers. Don't stack stamps. They should be stored in a single layer, so that you can always see the top of the stamp showing the design.

OTHER STORAGE IDEAS

Fishing tackle boxes--with compartments and levels that expand and collapse--are wonderful for storing scrapbooking supplies and tools. Plastic tool boxes, with many see-through drawers are also great for this purpose.

SCRAPBOOKING MAGAZINES

Is your closet full of scrapbooking magazines? There are a few things to do about this dilemma. 1) You can go through your magazines, find the articles you wish to keep and organize them into file folders by category. In other words, keep the article, toss the magazine. 2) Or you can keep the magazines in cardboard magazine boxes. If you do this, you should always keep a list of the title/issue of the magazine, the pages that interest you, and a few words describing why they interested you. This way, you can just scan your list, instead of going through the entire magazine to find what you're looking for. You can even use your computer and create the list in a word processing file. Then using the Find feature, you can simply search for key words in your document.

HOLD THAT THOUGHT

Rather than keeping all those great scrapbooking ideas and tips in your head--you know, the ones you pick up from magazines, web sites, etc.-- keep a 3-ring binder with some notepaper inside for all your thoughts and ideas. Plus, when you see something in a magazine, you can simply tear the page out of the magazine, 3-hold punch it, and place it in your binder. The same goes if you see something on a web site that you wish to refer to later; just print it out and insert it into your binder. You can even separate the binder into a few different sections, such as page layout ideas, organizing ideas, neat tools/supplies, etc.

CHOOSE A DESIGNATED WORK AREA

Scrapbooking is more fun and less of a chore, when everything is in one place and in close, accessible proximity to your working area. Designate a room, or a portion of a room, in your home for this activity. You should be able to retrieve your supplies, photos, etc. in seconds, without having to walk into another room, or rummage through a closet.

SHOPPING

Use an organized shopping system so you remember what you want to pick up for your hobby --scissors, crimpers, papers, etc. This will also eliminate purchasing items that you already have. When you think of something you need, immediately put it on a SCRAPBOOKING PICK UP list, and bring this list with you when you go shopping. Using 3 inch x 5 inch index cards, make examples of your cuts and punches on them. Label and keep them in your day timer, or a tiny 3-ring binder. Bring these cards with you when shopping for scrapbooking items, and you'll never buy duplicates. This also works great for remembering what color pens/pencils you have. Just draw a line on your index cards and label them.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE FIRST

Resist the urge to buy a million new papers, punches, and so on, until you've used some of the craft supplies you already have. Unless you're planning on opening a scrapbooking warehouse, it's best to be choosy before emptying your wallet on new items, when you already have items you could use in your current supply.

SHOP ONLINE

You'll save a lot of time running back and forth to the store, if you commit instead to making your purchases online.

TRADE

If you have something that you haven't used in a year or more, such as craft scissors, stickers, etc., swap them with a friend. Who knows? Perhaps your friend will find immediate use for this item, and you will get something you can use right now in return.

GOALS

Always set goals for your scrapbooking hobby, perhaps one to two pages a week. This is especially necessary if you're creating a scrapbook for an upcoming special occasion.

PLAN

Before you start working on your pages, plan ahead. Arrange your photos in chronological order and gather stickers, diecuts, etc. that correspond with your photos. Think about your layout and how you plan to document each photo. This will ensure you're going to be happy with the final results, and will reduce the need to redo things.

DO THE TWO STEP

Step One: Assemble your pages with your photos, documentation and critical diecuts.

Step Two: Decorate with stickers, stamps, etc. The two-step process will help you get the critical part (step one) done faster, and then you can continue with the second step (less important) later on.

KEEP YOUR PAGES SIMPLE

Although you may really feel the need for creating a work of art on occasion, if your goal is to get a scrapbook done as quickly as possible, keep it simple. Getting photos and documentation in the album is the main goal. Save your really creative moments for extra special scrapbooking projects. And remember, too much stuff on any one page, takes away from the photos.

QUICK COLOR SCHEMES

Quickly, organize your scrapbooks with colors that compliment each other, by referencing a good color harmony book. You can pick one up at your local bookstore. They include hundreds of color combination examples. Color Harmony, by Hideaki Chijiiwa, is an excellent book for this purpose.

MULTI-TASKING

Looking for a few minutes here or there to catch up on your scrapbooking? Take and make all your phone calls in the same room as your designated scrapbooking work area. Then, while you're on the phone with your friends or family, you can crop, frame or mount at the same time. Or, instead of making punches when you need them, make a bunch of punches at once while you're watching television, or are on the telephone, or when you're waiting for a pot of water to boil. This will save time later because your punches will be ready when you need them.

GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED

Many people like to get their kids involved with the actual project, such as arranging stickers, applying diecuts, etc. If you would rather your kids were not involved with the actual project, give them a project of their own. You can always find a few photos that you're not going to use in your scrapbook, some inexpensive paper, kid scissors, etc. Then have each child make their very own scrapbook. Either way, the kids will be occupied, which will give you time to enjoy your hobby.

ELIMINATE BICKERING

If you have more than one child that is involved with a scrapbooking activity, get them each their own plastic storage box and/or accordion files to keep their own supplies in. This way, when they want to work on their scrapbook, all of their supplies will already be separated. You may even color code their supplies, plastic boxes, etc. so they always know which stuff belongs to them. For example, blue container, blue scissors and markers labeled in blue for Billy, and all pink for Sally.

FAMILY TIME

Scrapbooking is a great way to spend some time with your family. Get the whole family involved and around the table at the same time. It's a great time to share ideas and dreams with each other. Can't seem to get the male family members involved? Perhaps they can sit at the table while the females are scrapbooking, and they could do something they enjoy at the same time. At least everyone will be together and having fun.

TEAM UP

Scrapbooking is a great way to spend time with your friends and catch up with each other. Start a scrapbooking club and meet at each other's homes one day every few weeks. Make a party of it!

IDENTIFY

The next time you get together with friends, or a scrapbooking club, put a little piece of colored tape on your scissors' handles, the sides of your punch tools, pens, etc. Then, everyone could share, but you'll be sure to get your tools back when it's time to go home.

DON'T TAKE THE KITCHEN SINK

If you're going to be scrapbooking at a friend's home, take a few minutes to plan what you want to work on. By doing this, you will only have to carry those supplies you're going to use. In other words, if you're going to be working on a wedding theme, there's no reason to be carrying all of your holiday items with you.

CLEAR THE WAY

If you are spending too much time looking for supplies, background papers, photos, frames, that great rubber stamp and so on, then, it's time to organize your work station. Declutter and toss out or trade those items you don't need, you don't like, etc. Organize your supplies into binders and storage containers. You should always be working on a clear surface, with only the current project in front of you.

CLEAN UP THE SCRAPS

If there is a wastepaper basket right near your work station, all of the scraps that you're not planning on using can be tossed immediately. Don't leave trash on your work surface. If you visit a friend's home, you may want to carry along an empty tissue box so that all scraps can be discarded immediately, and make clean-up for your host quick and easy.

PUT IT AWAY

Always have a home for your supplies, and when you're finished using them, take a few moments to put everything away. You should be able to start fresh with a clear mind and a clear surface.

BIG ITEM/SMALL ITEM

Never place a big item over a smaller item, because if you do, it will be out of sight, and difficult to find quickly.

ERGONOMICS

Organize your work area for increased productivity. Make sure it's well lit. Have a comfortable chair to sit on. Your supplies and tools should be within arms reach.

SAFETY

Organize your scrapbooking with safety in mind. Use a protective covering for your table. Craft mats are great for cutting on. Scissors and other sharp tools should be face down in a holder, and out of a young child's reach.

MAKE IT EASY

Different personality styles require different organization systems. Make sure you use an organization system you can live with--one that works with your style and that allows you to find things without delay. If you find things easier when they're alphabetized, then use that type of system. Perhaps you're better at finding things by color. Then use that system. Your organization system must work in harmony with your personality.

DON'T DO SO MUCH

Finding the time for your scrapbooking and/or rubberstamping hobby can be difficult if you have too many things going on in your life. Reduce or eliminate the activities you don't truly enjoy. Reduce the activities of your children. Get on an organized cleaning schedule, so you're not wasting the entire weekend cleaning up. Make easier dinners that are healthy, but take half the time to prepare. Get your family to help out with household chores and obligations.

SPARE TIME

Those spare minutes that we all have can be put to good use. Have to wait at the doctor's office for your appointment? Sketch out a quick layout idea. Waiting for the wash cycle to finish? Sort out some photos, or gather supplies for tomorrow's scrapbooking project.

WRITE IT DOWN

Don't ever leave your home without a small notebook in hand. You're bound to come up with a thought, or a cute caption, for your scrapbook. If you don't write it down right away, you may forget about it. You may also want to keep a small pad and a pen right near your bedside, in case you have a bright idea in the middle of the night.

ENJOY!

Plan, organize and schedule some time to enjoy your creations with family and friends. Scrapbooking is all about fun, laughter, memories, and touching moments!

About the Author:

Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now! http://www.getorganizednow.com

FREE Idea-Pak and E-zine filled with tips, ideas, articles and more to help you organize your home, your office and your life at the Get Organized Now! Web site!

Filed In: Crafts and Hobbies | Crafts | Scrapbooking

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(Article) - Three Tiered Birdhouse

Jorbins.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:10 GMT

Designed by Lori Higgins. Inspired by watercolor paintings, this birdhouse will be a nice addition to country-influenced decor. The finished house measures 9 x 4 x 4-1/2 . Materials needed: wood birdhouse, 10 colors acrylic paints, gesso, 2 dragonflies and printed instruction sheet.

Tool kit:

Pencil
#3 Round brush
3/4" Wash brush
Nail
Hammer
Decorating paste or wood fill
Spray varnish
E-6000 glue
Sand paper

Instructions:

Step 1

Fill recesses in wood with decorating paste. Sand lightly. Apply one coat underpainting using white gesso.

Step 2

Using the largest brush, apply the background color. Paint roof light blue. Use some of the light blue to paint the wire stem of the dragonfly to make it blend in with the roof. Paint the sky light blue.

Step 3

Using a straight edge, (or for the steady-handed, a freehand technique) create a darker blue grid on the roof of the birdhouse. Allow to dry (acrylic paints dry extremely fast in warmer climates).

Step 4

With a small brush, freehand paint the tree trunk and branches. (Use Nutmeg and add Black for more density. On the left side of the tree trunks, apply a darker brown shade and go to a lighter sienna on the right. Add some white for highlights to the outside edge of the tree. Then, using a DRY brush, lightly over-paint this with a glaze of white to soften.)

Step 5

Either freehand measure and paint your picket fence, or use a stencil or rubber stamp, which is infinitely faster and simpler. The flowers and leaves are painted with the smallest brush in pointillism or "stipple" technique. Finally, with a dry brush, apply small white dots against the blue sky for a cloud effect and against the violet flowers of the tree to add contrast. (The flowers are a dark hue of mixed true blue and pure magenta. White is added for the lighter hues, more blue for the darker violet).

Step 6

Use a graphite pencil to outline both the tree and the picket fence.

Step 7

Tap a small hole using a hammer and nail in the birdhouse roof. Remove nail and fill with E-6000 glue. Insert the dragonfly wire and bend it so it arches over the house. Allow project to dry approximately one hour.

Step 8

Spray with clear acrylic semi-gloss glaze.

TIP: Before starting this project, make sure to cover your work surface with a protective drop cloth. Also, follow instructions for using spray paint products, including good ventilation and a dust mask, if possible. Wehn mixing any color, mix enough to cover the entire area so you will not have different shades of the color in one area. Use white to lighten the color and a darker hue or black to deepen the color.

Joann.com - A truly great crafting resource.
If you are looking for craft ideas then Joann.com is the place to go. There are tons of free creative projects for every interest and skill level.

Filed In: Crafts and Hobbies | Crafts | Crafts For Kids Or The Whole Family

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(Article) - How to Make a Journal Jar:

Jorbins.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:09 GMT

To make your journal jar you need a quart canning jar with lid and ring, a small piece of cloth, some raffia and the following material. The idea is to cut the question in strips and place them in the jar. Put the material under the ring on top of the jar, and tie raffia around the neck of the jar with the card Recipe for: my Life History. Give journal jar as a gift.

I printed these strips on beige paper. The tag that goes on the outside of the jar was printed on tag board in beige and tied with beige raffia. The card was trimmed with pinking scissors and cut in an rectangle shape with one end rounded.

The person takes out one strip a day and uses that to write a journal entry.

The card that goes on the outside of the journal jar says:

RECIPE FOR MY LIFE HISTORY

Combine a generous slice of your life history, a dash of nostalgia, several cups of facts and feelings and 104 deliciously interesting questions. Draw one slip of paper. Take a few minutes to enjoy the memories. Paste or write the question at the top of a blank page. Fill in your answer. Don't worry about your handwriting or spelling - just tell your story. This product was prepared to preserve your life as a message. Enjoy the scrumptious, home-made memories that celebrate something very important - YOU!

The strips to cut apart and place in the jar are:

Tell something about each of your children, their personalities, their talents, traits, that make them different and special.

Describe a favorite vacation of your married years.

Tell about home cures or old wives tales, hiccups, toothaches, earaches, arthritis.

Where were you and what were you doing the day the wall came down in Germany or the coup in USSR or Dec. 7th - World War II started or ended - pres. Kennedy

Describe your wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, suit etc, if male.

Write a description of your husband or wife.

Tell about retirement - when, where, what will you do with your time?

Describe your mother's wedding dress - what do you know about her wedding?

Where did you live as a child - town, country, suburb, etc?

What is your greatest joy, your greatest sorrow?

Do you have a favorite author why? who? Tell about your favorite books as a child - as an adult.

What do you feel has been the most significant world events that has taken place in your lifetime and why?

Describe the most serious illness or accident that you have had.

What is your favorite book and what do books mean to you.

Describe your yard as a child - did you help with the yardwork?

What are your memories --- Draw a diagram if you can.

Tell about Family Reunions.

Tell about your teen-age social life - your friends, dances, dating, outings, church functions etc.--

What would you like to be remembered for?

Describe your last home as a young couple.

How did your father spend his time supporting his family?

Tell about exciting experiences in young women, scouting or whatever.

Tell about your life as the children left home - new interests, what did you do with the extra time -- new employment, moves, hobbies, etc.

Tell about handed-down talents, foods, clothespin dolls, willow whistles, pottery, quilting, whittling, meat drying etc.

What lessons did you take as a child - did you carry any over into adulthood?

What were the favorite places to go with your family when you were young?

Tell about any ancestors that you know about - name dates, etc. for historical purposes and any stories about them.

Tell about anniversaries, celebrations, trips, gifts.

What were your fears, expectations, anticipations about getting married?

Tell about a special date you had with a boy/girl friend or your fiancée.

What is your mother's best trait? Worst? = the traits you share.

What is your father's best trait? Worst? = the traits you share.

One word on how to live successfully.

How do you feel about winning? Losing?

Tell a courtship story about your parents, how they met etc...

Tell the same about your courtship.

Describe a favorite childhood friend and something you did with her or him.

Tell about your grandchildren - how many- how did you feel about being a grandparent?

Have you met or worked with famous people? Who - Where- etc.

How did you become engaged?

What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you and the worst?

What is your child-rearing philosophy?

Describe your Sundays as a mother/father or as a child.

What can frighten you the most and why?

Describe your conversion to the gospel.

Do you wish you had more sisters or brothers, and why?

Tell about your favorite aunt.

What is the most exciting place that you have ever been to and why?

What was your worst, really embarrassing moment?

What games did you play as a child - inside and outside?

Where did your Grandparents live? What was their home like? Did it have a certain smell or look?

Tell about your favorite uncle.

Did you have a close relationship with your grandparents = tell about it.

Write your testimony of life - marriage - the gospel.

Did you have a bicycle and what was it like?

Tell how, when, where you learned to drive and any memorable experiences.

Tell about each of your children's names, birthdate, where, doctors, circumstances surrounding the birth - raising them in the home -problems, joys etc.

How did you like being the oldest, youngest or middle child?

What were the advantages or disadvantages?

Tell about a frustrating experience that you have had with a car.

What is your advice to those younger than you?

Were you ever in a drama, speech, sports, pep or glee club? Tell about it.

Did you and your father share any interests together - what and why?

What is your favorite scripture and why?

Describe a childhood Christmas.

Describe a typical day in elementary school.

What did you do when you were a child that got you in the most trouble and how did your parents handle it?

Tell about your first crush.

What church callings have you had and which did you enjoy the most?

Did you go camping? Tell about your experiences.

How did you feel about school?

Do you remember any of your four grandparents? Any greats? What were their names? Any memories that you have.

Tell about your mother: personality, characteristics, stature, coloring, talents, temperament, family stories about her, her role in your home, etc.

Do you have a favorite General Authority? Who and why?

What do you fantasize about doing or being?

What is your personal secret of happiness?

Describe a perfect spring day and activities on that day?

What is the most important lesson, message, or advice that you have learned that you might pass on to others?

Thinking back was there a teacher who had a great influence on you?

Tell about your own family traditions: Christmas, birthdays, graduation, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Mothers or Fathers Day, weddings, funerals, hunting etc.

Describe a childhood birthday.

How did you become engaged?

What personality trait do you admire and why?

Did you have a favorite TV, radio, program as a child? Tell about it.

Did you go to college or have vocational training - where or when?

Did you have a childhood hideout - tell about it.

Tell about a favorite trip or vacation.

What is your secret for good health?

Describe a childhood Christmas.

Did it snow much when you were a child - tell something about it, what did you do?

Describe getting a Christmas tree as a child, when did you put it up and decorate it?

Tell about your civic or political activities.

Write about some places you went with your father.

Write about some places that you went with your mother.

What do you think about movies - what is your favorite movie and why?

If you could be an animal, which one would you choose and why?

Describe a typical day during your Jr. High years.

What kind of extra-curricular activities did you participate in at school?

Tell about the houses you lived in childhood - addresses, phone #'s, etc...

What do you think brings good or bad luck?

Tell about all the places you have worked.

Describe your wedding day.

What are your food preferences and how did they come about?

How did your mother spend her time?

Where you responsible for household chores? What were they?

Which did you enjoy most/least?

What are your most deeply and imbedded values?

This is a wonderful gift that everyone really enjoys!

Merle O'Brien http://www.recipes4learning.com
Stop by for some fun & free recipes 4 crafts, cooking, learning, songs and more! Over 300 recipes & growing!

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(Article) - How To Make Balloon Plants:

Jorbins.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:08 GMT

Making Balloon Plants is a wonderful activity! You can also use them to give as gifts, or to make at parties. Kids love making them and you will enjoy watching your new plant grow:)

1. Hold a balloon firmly by the neck. The neck is the long part. Use a funnel, and pour 1/2 cup of dirt into the balloon. Don't turn the balloon over. (Try to find clear balloons to use.)

2. Keep holding the balloon by the neck. Add about 1/4 cup of water through the funnel. Be sure the soil in the balloon is wet. It shouldn't be soggy, though.

3. Use the funnel to drop the radish seeds into the balloon. Don't turn the balloon over.

4. If the balloon is dirty, wipe it carefully with a washcloth.

5. Now you're ready to blow up your balloon! Keep holding it gently by the neck. Now carefully blow air into the balloon. You need to keep the balloon from tipping.

6. Tie a knot in the neck to keep the air in the balloon. Tie a ribbon around the knot.

7. Tie the balloon to a hook or other place near a window. The neck should be the top.

8. Your balloon plant is ready to begin growing!

If you would like more fun activities to do, you will love my Monday thru Friday ezine "Recipes 4 learning" To sign up just send a blank email to: join-recipes4learning@gt.sodamail.com

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(Article) - Rainy Day Paper-Mache

Jorbins.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:06 GMT

A great rainy day activity to do at the kitchen table!

Paper-Mache Ingredients:

2 cups of cold water
1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups of flour

Newspaper, cut into strips that measure about 1x15 inches Molded clay or balloon to use as a mold Mix water and flour in a large bowl with wire whisk until smooth. Mixture should be the same thickness as heavy cream. Coat your mold with one layer of strips which have been dipped in water. The dip the strips in flour mixture and lay over the first layer of strips until the mold is well coated in strips. Let stand until strips are dry and hard. Paint over the strips if you like, and decorate. Let your kids get creative and make whatever strikes their fancy.

Try self portraits for a great time! After the paper-mache is dried, paint it the color of skin, and give them a mirror to paint their features. Be sure to take a picture of each child holding the "sculpture" they created of their face.

About the Author:

Brenda is mom to three, and editor of http://oldfashionedliving.com and http://oldfashionedholidays.com. Visit her sites for more activities, recipes, gardening features and family fun.

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(Article) - Photograph Your Children

Jorbins.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:04 GMT

1. Get to know your camera. Half an hour spent reading the instruction book and getting to know what your camera can do, really will be time well spent. Practice using the camera without film until you feel confident with the controls. Practice holding the camera very firmly when pressing the shutter, as any movement will result in a blurred picture. Tucking your arms tightly into your body helps to avoid this. Or look around for something to support the camera. A wall, a ledge, seat or tree branch would be ideal.

2. Get in close. Fill the viewfinder with your subject and you are sure to improve your pictures. A telephoto or zoom lens is obviously the easiest way to do this but even with a compact camera you can usually get much closer than you think. Consult your instruction book. Getting down to your child's level will make this easier and and improve the shot too.

3. Look carefully at the background. We've all seen photographs of people with lamp posts or telegraph poles growing out of their heads, but it's the less obvious background muddles that often ruin pictures. The washing on the line in the garden or clutter on the sofa or table. Change your position if you cannot change the child's.

4. Turn the camera round. Taking the picture with your camera in the vertical position can be an easy way to cut out a lot of unnecessary background and give you more of the child in the shot. If using your camera this way up feels strange, practice without film until it feels comfortable. Using your camera in this position avoids a lot of cut off heads and feet too.

5. Photograph children in their natural environment. Pictures taken in their bedrooms surrounded by toys, crawling out of their den in the garden or hanging from the climbing frame in the park are much more likely to be successful than formally posed shots in their best clothes perched on the edge of the sofa. Photograph them when they're grubby and scruffy as well as in their Sunday best.

6. Become invisible. The very best natural, unposed pictures will be taken when your child is totally unaware of your existence. This can be achieved by the use of a telephoto or zoom lens or just by being so quiet that they forget about you. If this is impossible, the other trick is to talk to them about what they are doing, thus turning their attention back to the activity and away from the camera. If you feel that flash lights will frighten your baby or distract your child, use a fast film, 400 or higher, and you should be able to take photographs indoors in a fairly bright room without flash. Side lighting from a window can be effective but don't place your children directly in front of a window or their faces will be in shadow.

7. Sea, sand and sky. Is there anything more depressing than getting back the prints of your family on that paradise beach to find them all pictured as black silhouettes against a perfectly exposed sky? This happens because the large amount of back light tricks the camera's exposure meter into thinking that the whole scene is receiving lots of light, but as we have seen, faces are in shadow. The only way to correct this is to use fill in flash to lighten the shadows, or a large piece of white card, held just out of shot, to reflect light back on to the faces. Check your instruction book again as some cameras have a back light compensation switch especially to help solve this problem. Avoid shooting at midday as this is when the shadows will be harshest. Try to move your child so that the light falls from the side if possible.

8. Dressing up. Having a few props ready can make for a fun session. Hats are a favourite with children, but shawls, flowers, baskets and dressing up clothes as well as toys and teddies will all help you compose interesting pictures, especially when children do the unexpected with them! Don't necessarily go for a smile on every shot, try to capture a whole range of expressions.

9. Sports and action shots. There are two ways of photographing action. The first is to use a high shutter speed which, like flash, will effectively freeze the motion, giving a sharp picture but losing the sense of movement. The second method is panning, or following the child with the camera. Focus on the spot where your child will be arriving and follow the action with the camera, pressing the shutter very smoothly and keeping the pan going for a few seconds afterwards. This results in a sharp picture of your child but with a streaked background giving a much better feel of the action. Remember it is easier to photograph motion that is coming towards you than passing by in front.

10. Collecting your prints from the processor need not be the end of the story. Why not have your prints enlarged so that you can hang them on the wall and enjoy them every day. Or scan them into your computer and set them as wallpaper or make them into screensavers. If there is a problem with Aunt Sally's slippers in the left hand corner, many processing houses offer selective enlargements where they will just enlarge the part you want. It is also possible to have your photographs printed on to a paper that gives the look of a painting on canvas, or you can have pictures made into posters, puzzles, table mats, even mugs and plates.

Happy snapping!

About the Author:

Colleen Moulding is a freelance writer from England where she has had many features on parenting, childcare, travel, the Internet and many more subjects published in national magazines and newspapers. She has also published a variety of women's and children's fiction. Her work frequently appears at many sites on the Internet and at her own site for women and children. All That Women Want.com is a magazine, web guide, and resource for women everywhere.

Why not drop by? It was made for you! http://www.allthatwomenwant.com

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(Article) - Create A Fun and Easy Indoor Pond!

Jorbins.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:03 GMT

Making an indoor pond is fun and easy!

Any good quality, plastic container of about 10 inches in depth will do the job. The container should be at least 30 inches wide and 36 inches long (plastic storage containers work great).

Surround the container with flat rocks which have been washed thoroughly. The last layer of rocks should cover the top edge of the container.

Use a 75 gph pump to circulate the water.

Add a few plants that have been planted in aquatic planting medium.

One or two small goldfish can survive in this Pond.

Add a few plants in Terra Cotta pots around the back edge of the little pond for a natural backdrop.

Now you have a little bit of nature inside the house to enjoy all year!

About the Author:

Brigitte Burchett is the editor of "Splash! The Pond and Water Garden Newsletter!" Lots of tips, expert advice and great ideas! Subscribe to the newsletter by visiting http://www.pondmarket.com/

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(Article) - Saving Family Keepsakes for Scrapbooking

Jorbins.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:02 GMT

I'm new to scrapbooking, and I still can't believe all the possibilities there are for scrapbook layouts.

When I first began I pulled out and organized a lot of my daughter's childhood photos. Also collecting dust on my closet shelf was a box of other family keepsakes I'd kept throughout the years.

For example, when we went to Disney World, in addition to all the pictures we had taken, I kept the plane tickets, the cards you get to open your hotel door, meal vouchers, luggage tags, post cards, and theme park passes. These will make a fun addition to our Disney World-themed scrapbook pages.

For school, there are a number of things you can keep. Certificates, award ribbons, and report cards are just a couple of ideas. You can also break this category down into smaller ones, like school sports, plays, band, etc. I've kept all of the programs from my daughter's school plays, which will make a great addition to the pictures I have of her "in character."

Other keepsakes might include handmade cards or little notes your child might have left you from time to time. These memories are priceless, and could never be re-created even if you tried. Keeping these treasures in a family scrapbook will ensure the memories are preserved.

For holiday memories, you might have childhood Christmas wish lists, family letters, holiday cards, party invitations, or favorite family holiday recipes. I even keep thank-you cards I have received.

Looking through my box I also found some other types of family memories that would also make great themed scrapbook pages. Wedding announcements, funeral programs, and graduation announcements are a great complement to your family photographs.

Hopefully these ideas will get you thinking of things you might have tucked away somewhere that would be a great addition to your scrapbooking projects. If not, it's never too late to start.

Crafty Moms
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer, mom, and owner of four home and family web sites. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit http://www.crafty-moms.com.

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(Article) - That One Photograph

Jorbins.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:01 GMT

It always comes down to one image. I've been doing this for more than twenty years, thirty if you count the trips I took when I had no idea how to use a camera. Thirty years of travel photography and of all the photographs I take on any given trip, it always comes down to one favorite image. The image that captures the essence of the adventure, the journey, the experience. One trip, one image.

Yes, I have several images that I like from each adventure, but there is always that one I say is my favorite. The one I think of when I think of the trip. The image. Not the experience of actually taking the image, just THE image. I think of that image when I think, or am asked about, any given trip. Funny how that works. When I think of Peru, I think of the little girl, "my" little girl.

Never said a word to her. Her mother was trying to sell me a necklace or something. There were two dugout canoes and several women making their sales pitch ... I had no idea what they were showing me, I saw the girl. Well, and I saw the paddle. The girl caught my attention, but the paddle made me take the picture. I was in the Amazon Rain Forest and the dugout canoe was a symbol I wanted to capture on film. The canoe itself, and the large, wide paddles I had seen everyone using. Very unique, to me anyway. It was my first time on the Amazon and the canoe and an odd shaped paddle became symbols of the river itself. To me, they say AMAZON. In capital letters!

Enter the young girl and her custom fitted paddle. I loved it. Handmade junior sized Amazon paddle, a one-of-a-kind. I had to take the picture. It became my favorite.

True, it is my experience, my memories, but is it a good picture? I believe it is. What makes it good? First, as a photograph, we must look at the light. Photography is light. Period. Nice light. We were tucked up under some trees off a small lake, and the trees soften the light and danced off the water filling in some of the shadows on the girl's face. Look at the girl's face. Where is the light coming from? Now, look at the other side of her face ... See the "fill-light"? Nice.

The girl herself. I always tell my photography students that you can't go wrong with kids and/or pets. She was worth taking the picture all by herself. Did I? No. I had to place her in her world with her paddle. The dugout canoe and that paddle made it the "Amazon Girl," and not just "Young Girl in Boat."

How about the background? Her expression? The tight cropping? Her body language? The colors? Very important. These are all elements that add up to the total image. They are the setting, she is the main character, and the paddle, well, let's call the paddle the climax, if I borrow freely from the literary world. Nothing is in the image that I don't want it the image. That is my role. That is the artist in me, telling you, the viewer, what I think is important, and what I want you to look at. Photographers subtract, painters add. I call it a "clean image." As the artist, I subtracted the "clutter" around this beautiful young girl and made her the center of my attention, and in doing so, made her your center of attention. Her and the paddle. I hope her mother forgives me, but I just had to cut her out of the frame.

Is it a good photograph? Is it more than the girl and her paddle? Does it evoke an emotion? Does the eye contact draw you into the subject? Does the light enhance the image? Do you like it? Does the paddle add to the photograph? Should it be my favorite image from more than 25 rolls of film? Does it say "AMAZON" to you? Is it worth me writing about? Is it worth the fuss?

Yes.

To me anyway. And that is the key. It is MY favorite image from the 400 plus images I kept from my week on the Amazon. I will remember the river, my week in the Rain Forest, and my trip to Peru by this one image. Funny how that works. The Amazon Girl. I saw her about five minutes tops, but the moment, her expression, and yes, even that darn paddle will be with me for many, many years to come.

I love photography. I love the power of photography. I love the power of the photograph. And I hope to for many years to come.

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(Article) - Photography

Jorbins.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:02 GMT

I am always looking for an excuse to take pictures. Truth is, it doesn't need to be much - a nice sunny morning, a foggy evening, a new filter, the way the light hits the wall in the living room, whatever. Starting the new year out with a new camera just makes it all that much easier for me to drop everything and plan a few minutes getting away from it all and learn what this new toy is all about.

Photography is more than taking pictures. For me, it is an activity that makes me think, makes me learn, and makes me get out - or stay inside - and actually forces me look for things I would normally not see. Seeing is much more important than looking. Seeing is opening yourself up to new experiences and attitudes towards light and space. Seeing is more of having a new outlook than it is about looking.

Even if you did not receive a new camera for Christmas, unwrap your old camera and begin the new year with a new photographic outlook. As a college photography instructor who is just beginning a new semester, the first class is really me thanking students for showing up and giving me the excuse to work on becoming a better photographer myself. I start out by getting them to begin thinking about photography as more than mere picture taking. It is an adventure. It is the start of a new way of sharing their thoughts, vision, and ideas on film with others. My role is to motivate them to get out and explore the artist within. In doing so, I must push myself even further than before, which for me, is the greatest gift of all, and the reason I do what I do. It is just another excuse to try something new, to see the common in a new light, to see light transform the common into the spectacular, to make a photograph, not just take a picture.

The key to a new photographic outlook is not, as I might of suggested, a new camera, or even a new piece of equipment. It is simply telling yourself that photography is more than the photograph and that the secret is more attitude than aperture.

To help you start the new year with a new photographic attitude, I have a few ideas and concepts I would like to share with you. Whatever camera you have, be it digital or conventional, the first step is to learn what your camera can and can not do. Yes, it could be as easy as reading the manual, but the fun begins by actually using all those cute little buttons that you have no idea what they are for. Try them. It is safe to say, if you are anything like my photography class, that your camera does much more than you think it can. Even a point-n-shoot camera is capable of more than just pointing and shooting. Clean the camera off, put in new batteries, and spend a few hours learning about your camera.

If you have never tried slide film before, this is your chance. Nothing tricky here, just go out and buy a roll of 100 speed slide film - the word CHROME will be on the box someplace. My favorite is Fuji Sensia 100, but any flavor will do. The reason I suggest slide film is that it makes you work harder. Or should I say it makes your camera work harder. Photography is not work, you just have to work hard at it. Slide film comes back to you as your camera took it, good or bad. Nobody, or nothing, fixes your mistakes, corrects your exposures, or crops the images. Shoot a roll of slow speed slide film and you can see what you and your camera need to work on.

Purchase a tripod. It is the one piece of equipment that will make you a better photographer. The key is that it does not breath. We, as humans, do. We breath, therefore we move. If you want a sharper image, either stop breathing or buy a tripod of some sort. My suggestion? Buy the biggest, heaviest one you will be willing to carry, the key word being "willing". Take that for what it is worth. Anything, a fence, a rock, a can, anything that does not breath, is better than hand holding a camera. Trust me. The reason deals with shutter speeds. Your camera must let light reach the film. The shutter must open, let the light in, then close. The time it is open is the time you don't want to be breathing. If that time is quick enough, no problem. The problem is that every so often, that amount of time is not quick enough for most of us to hold steady. You know what the results are - Blurred images, fuzzy pictures, a waste of paper. Unless you photograph in sunny, bright light all the time, try a "support device" of some type. One tip - Make sure you buy a camera tripod, not a video tripod. Just make sure you can "flip" the camera up to take a vertical shot before walking out the store.

That is all you need. A camera of some sort, slide film, if using a 35mm camera, and a tripod. Now get off the computer and begin seeing your world in a new light. Read all you can about your camera and take pictures. Try using all the buttons and knobs your camera has to offer. That is photography. Forget about all the rules, just shoot. Photograph anything and everything. You can't go wrong, that is the whole idea. Learning is trying something new and different.

It is also taking the time to review your work and seeing what the results tell you. Only half of the learning experience is making the images. The rest comes from looking at each slide and seeing what works and does not work. Yes, many new students write down what they did while they did it. Cool. It helps. I did that once. I tend to be more of a "seat of the pants" learner/teacher. I just remember what I did for each image and go from there (big tree - double exposure). That said, I do recommend writing things down for that first role or two. Once you get the concepts, the images will be all the proof you need.

I have my new camera, I'm ready. The year is off to a new start all on its own. Why not get yourself, your new, or not so new camera, and your new photographic outlook off to a new start and share your new vision with others. That is photography. It all comes down to attitude. New Year, new camera, new outlook. Enjoy.

Email questions, comments or inquiries to: David Hessell dhessell@caa.k12.nc.us

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(Article) - Photography Workshops: Questions And Answers

Jorbins.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:01 GMT

As photographers, we solve problems. A good photographer is always asking questions and answering them as fast as be can press the shutter. In fact, whenever possible, most of the questions are answered before the camera is even brought up to the eye.

As far as I'm concerned, the best place to answer these questions is at a photography workshop. What is a photography workshop? Good question. A photography workshop is when photographers get together at the right time and the right place with the right instructor. It is a win-win situation. Every photographer has questions and this is the time to ask them Whenever you get a number of people with the same interest together, something good usually comes from it. Answers to questions are a good thing.

As a part-time college photography instructor, I always start my first class by guaranteeing that the students will become better photographers, period. Not that I am that good, but the idea of spending the next sixteen weeks with other photographers, thinking like photographers, and acting like photographers, is sure to rub off on them in some aspect. Ask questions and search for answers; that is learning. That is also how someone becomes better at whatever it is they do.

Think about it. If someone is willing to pay money to show up on a Saturday morning at 9am, or on a Tuesday and Thursday evening to improve their photography, my job as an instructor is half done. Another aspect of a photography class, or workshop, is that no matter how good the instructor is, the students do much of the teaching. I have been lucky enough to have published photographers enrolled in my classes and they play a major role in the success of the class as a whole. They learn, I learn, everyone learns from working together. Many times it is the simple things, such as how someone holds their camera, how they set up their tripod, which filter they choose, or how they "work" at getting an image. If you watch how other photographers solve their problems, you too will become a better photographer. Learning is a shared experience.

What is the difference between a photography workshop and a college photography course? Well, that depends on the classroom. It also depends on the type of photography course you are looking for. If you are hoping to improve your studio or darkroom skills, then getting outside and shooting will not be of much help. A workshop is best suited for photographers of all different skill levels that want to improve their "hands-on" working skills in location photography. From basic camera operations, to the more advanced skills of controlling light and improving composition, workshops give photographers the chance to get out and try all the different techniques they have read, or heard, about with other photographers, at the right time and location, and, hopefully, with the right instructor.

In fact, my Saturday college class is designed to combine the best of both worlds: lectures to cover the basics, combined with field trips to put the photographer in working situations to try all that they covered in the classroom lectures. You need both. Even my black-and-white darkroom class is split between lectures and fieldwork before we even think about getting into the darkroom.

Ask questions. What do you need to improve your photography? How are your flash photography skills? Do you have a "personal vision"? Do you understand the techniques of bracketing, multiple exposures, and compensation? What type of photography are you interested in? Will a nature photography workshop be useful if you shoot with a digital or point-n-shoot camera? Why spend money to go out and photograph something that you could do for free on your own? Ask questions, call or e-mail the instructor, visit the location, talk to other photographers and/or students, and find out if a workshop is the right answer to your questions. Chances are, you will find that a workshop is the right choice.

Wine Photography Workshop

I held my first photography workshop of the "summer" (mid-May) at a small local winery in Valdese, NC. There is a small vineyard and a "barn" that serves as the winery and store: the right location. We started at 7am: the right time. True, it was raining at that early hour but that is not the point. No, in fact, it is the point. Location photography means being somewhere and dealing with whatever you are confronted with. Yes, we were there in hopes of capturing that "golden light" of early morning, but one can not always rely on the weather. It was a slight problem.

Solving problems, answering questions. Too many times beginning photographers put their cameras away when it rains, or it is foggy, snowing, etc... Their loss. True, I probably would have had more people show up if it were a nice sunny morning, but that is not my goal. My goal is to put photographers into different situations, give them different "assignments", and help them work at becoming better photographers - no matter what their present level is, or if it is raining or not. Rain? No problem. The fact is, it rains and photographers have to deal with it. Within the first hour, it cleared up and became a non-factor. Always go to a workshop unless your life is in danger due to the weather. How many shots of a winery in the rain do you have in your files? Good question.

The answer to the rain question was Bocce Ball. Yes, Bocce Ball. The winery had a covered deck that just happened to have a Bocce Ball court. The balls were lined up in the windowsills and made for a great excerise in "seeing". I had the students shoot a minimum of six shots (only six?) of the "still-lives" to help develop their "photographic vision". The notion of making art from a bunch of old red and black Bocce balls stacked up in a windowsill while at a wine workshop made for great conversation and proved to be a valuable teaching exercise. I loved it. How many ways can one photograph Bocce balls? Turned out to be a good question with no certain answer - limitless possibilities.

That is the role of the instructor. I put the pieces together by placing photographers together at the right location, at the right time (which is anytime photographers are together!), and giving them a number of "situations" that presented limitless possibilities. I had scouted the location, talked to the owners, and brought along a few "tools" to help place the students into situations that pushed them both artistically and technically. I asked them to solve different problems and even set-up situations that caused them to ask questions and work together to solve the problem. That is what photographers do. That is also what teachers do.

Is a photography workshop what you need to become a better photographer? Good question. Simple answer: Yes. A good photographic workshop will place you in a situation where you can learn something new, meet other people that share your passion, and gives you the chance to share what you have learned by answering questions for others. What have you got to lose? Good question.

Email questions, comments or inquiries to: David Hessell dhessell@caa.k12.nc.us

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(Article) - Preserving Thanksgiving Memories for Scrapbooking

Jorbins.com — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Last year our family tried out a new way to preserve Thanksgiving memories, and the result was truly a treasured keepsake.

A day or two before Thanksgiving, my daughter and I used a turkey rubber stamp to make place cards for all of our family members. We colored the place cards with colored pencils and wrote people's names on them with a metallic gold pen.

We then cut up strips of paper to put into a small basket to distribute before Thanksgiving dinner. The day of Thanksgiving, after all of the guests had arrived, we handed out the slips of paper and asked everyone to write down something they were thankful for.

Now you should have seen the looks I got! Keep in mind that there were family members of all ages, from young teenagers to adults. Most of them looked at me like I was crazy (because this memory-making stuff is all new to them), but I told them they had to do it before they could eat.

So they all sat to write down what they were thankful for. Some came up with something very quickly, and others sat there perplexed and worried they were going to spell something wrong. Several didn't write anything down at all.

The end result was a wide variety of very thoughtful answers. I put away the slips of paper, made sure to take some good family pictures (carving the turkey, eating dinner, visiting with each other, napping after dinner), and made sure to keep some of the place cards.

I don't always get to my scrapbook pages immediately after an event like this. I do, however, make sure everything is in one place so that I can assemble my pages when I'm ready.

I later went to the store to buy some pre-cut Thanksgiving and fall images for my scrapbook pages, and then framed my pictures with some coordinating cardstock pieces. I then laid out two scrapbook pages with the photos, a couple of the turkey place cards, and most of the slips of paper people had written on. I tried to arrange a person's slip of paper near their photo.

My finished project was by no means fancy or a work of art, but it will always be an irreplaceable treasured family keepsake.

Photos of finished project: http://www.crafty-moms.com/scrapbooking/sample_layouts_4.shtml

Filed In: Crafts and Hobbies | Crafts | Scrapbooking

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