Funny Craft Videos & Appreciation

While she doesn't know me from one potato or tomato, I have to send out my congratulations to mADDmartha Megan for passing her Bar Exam. This is quite an accomplishment! I stumbled across Ms. mADDmartha a few months ago on YouTube, and I have to say, she has inspired me to get back into scrapbooking. :) So, thanks for that Ms. M, and good luck with law. I once contemplated law school, and I may return to thoughts of it again, until then I'll live through you. lol

Check out her videos,  and while you are at it, check out these crafty song videos that keep me in stitches while I stitch. :)

Good day!

Creating a New Banner for Zibbet

I am planning to test the waters over at Zibbet, a new venue for handmade products. If you sign up for a free account, you are limited to a banner that measures 640w x 120h (Etsy is 760w x 100h). They have a nicely detailed tutorial on the site that will help you build a banner in Photoshop, but it doesn't take into account that many Etsy banners were created as Microsoft PowerPoint slides.

Check out this image size calculator that shows you how to convert pixels into inches and inches to pixels.
Your Etsy banner may measure 10.63"w  x 1.4"h in PowerPoint, but now you need to make that slide 8.54"w x 1.6"h (which means your finished slide will be 640w x 120h). I've actually made mine 8.53"w x 1.6"h and it loaded with no issues in Zibbet.

Hope that helps, and see ya at Zibbet!

Did ya hear...Books on the Horizon

Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later is coming out March 29, 2010. Yes, I'll admit I use to roam the virtual halls of Sweet Valley High with my imaginary friends Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. I loved the series of books by Francine Pascal.

Now fans get the chance to find out what happened to the twins, and see what their world (in 2009) is like. Oh yes, the twins have aged right along with us. I've read the first chapter of the first book, and I'm intrigued. Want to read it yourself?

Find out more as you "like" them on Facebook 

Three cheers for the Wakefield twins! :)

An Angel Policy on one shoulder...

As of April, 2010, Provo Craft updated their Angel Policy for the Cricut personal electronic cutter machines to read as follows:

This new Angel Policy still does not authorize you to produce and sell individual, unassembled cuts using Cricut products (i.e., mass producing individually-cut letters or shapes to re-sell). It does, however, authorize you to sell up to 10,000 completed projects annually (i.e., cards, scrapbook pages, finished cakes), using cuts made with Cricut products. This revision offers the most flexibility possible to those who wish to create and sell projects made using any of the Provo Craft products, while also protecting the creative ideas and images of the independent artists with whom we work to produce art for our cartridges. 

Before you begin to bask in the glow of the new policy, it is worth noting that on the official Angel Policy page, these changes have not been added. There haven't been any changes since my post in September.

The only change is a new line about the Cricut Cake, "Provo Craft content used in cutting edible material in connection with the CRICUT CAKE™ machine is exempt from the Angel Policy."

Again, I think the changes are great, but they haven't been updated on the official Angel Policy site (which is where most people who are searching for the information would look...),  and unless they completely replace the original policy, there are still some changes needed (especially the online selling issue).

And while I believe the Cricut Cake may be the straw that breaks me to buy a personal cutting machine... I cannot stress enough to Provo Craft and other manufacturers that I think it is their responsibility to the consumer that they make this information accessible prior to purchase and easily found on their site.

I'll say it again...

Look, all companies have the right to state how their products can and cannot be used. I do take offense that companies who are creating tools and supplies for crafters are not making these copyright restrictions and "Angel Policies" a part of their own packaging. Let the buyer know prior to their purchase what you do and do not expect of them. Many crafters do not have a clue that such policies exist. Realistically, most people assume, hey, this is an item created for the specific purpose of being used for subsequent creations. Most don't stop and think that the manufacturer of the item would even dream of attempting to limit the creative process or the ability for the crafter to then make a profit on the item.

That's what she said. :) 

Dunder Mifflin Office Love

I'm a huge fan of the television show "The Office." I love both the British and American versions. I am not alone in my adoration. Here are some great tributes to the show and characters.

Find out more about Dunder Mifflin

That's What She Said by youwannatalkjive

There is no shortage of love for Dwight Schrute and his beet-loving heart.

 

Urine, it was urine... by JRoseArt

Schrute Farms by Totally Severe

Dwight Schrute Fact Pendant by badassbunny

However, those who love Jim or John Krasinski can feel the love (imaginary as it may be)

I want to know what love is and I want John Krasinski to to show me card by lemons with a pea

Mii Madness: The Office Characters by n1c2c8