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April 1, 2006
From the Helm
Cap'n Dawn Heath,Publisher
The beautiful city of Singapore! What a treat it is to spend time in one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world! Singapore is one of the best-connected countries in the world, with excellent sea, air and telecommunication links. It has the busiest port in the world, serving as a center for more than 200 shipping lines to more than 600 ports worldwide. Yet, they are allowing our luxury liner (S.S. Reflections) to moor here for a whole month! Read on and you'll understand why...Singapore is the world's third most wired nation and Asia's most wired, Singapore is a "plug and play" nation. One where online banking & mobile lifestyle have become the norm. And close to 99% of the population, or almost every home, school and business has access to broadband internet. I wonder how many of our readers are in Singapore? It would be wonderful for all of our readers to have broadband available to them! Just think of all the art we'd be able to offer you if that were true! The moment I saw this picture I knew it was exactly what I wanted to share with you! Singapore is a beautiful city with a very high standard of living. Singapore is perfectly positioned so that we can visit many other areas around us, take a couple of days to visit Malasia and Indonesia! We hope that you are inspired by the beauty of the world around us and that S.S. Reflections has made the world just a little bit smaller and that you enjoy visiting these beautiful countries. Please be sure to share your inspirations with all of us and now you can do that with our brand new interactive Readers Photo Gallery!
I just want to take this opportunity to remind you of all the awesome new features we have for you on the magazine! First, we've changed the menu to the left so that it is easier for you to understand. Also, we have our Quick Links at the bottom of each page! Then there is the expansion of our Stamping Deck with the addition of the Altered Arts Deck! Last month we officially launched our brand new Interactive Reader's Gallery! The designs being uploaded are just incredible! I hope you have had the time to check it out and even upload your own work! This new photo gallery will work along side our already established Ezine Message Board and our wonderful Ezine Yahoo! Group! We have also fixed our forum message board and we've been able to successfully alleviate all that spam we were getting hit with! Its really nice to have some "spare" time again after all the time it took to keep the message board clean from all the garbage! If you are hearing about all these new features for the first time...you may want to join one of our wonderful areas of the Communication Deck! Our Yahoo! Group members and message board members were the first to find out about the latest news and updates! So, come and join in on the fun by boarding the SSR yourself! Have you signed up for our bi-monthly newsletter yet? Did you know that we send out a newsletter when we change our Reader's Gallery each month? The newsletter is FREE and is full of up-to-date information on what is happening on board the S.S. Reflections! If you would like to receive our newsletter you can sign up for it HERE.
We hope that you are taking advantage of our program to actually purchase the designs created by our amazing designers! All you need to do is click on the thumbnail of your favorite design, and if it is for sale it will be listed at the bottom of the supply list. You can email the crewmember directly for information about purchasing the design featured! Shipping and handling are not included in the price of the design. Insurance is required on all sales. The asian themed work of art to the right is ready for you to purchase for your own! This was created by our very talented Debi Wind!
If you are joining us for the very first time, let me explain what S.S. Reflections is. We are a completely FREE online magazine with a truly unique concept. SSR is a virtual cruise ship from the Golden Era here to entertain you as we visit a new country/port each month. We have an amazing crew who create designs and share ideas with you each month from various areas of the ship. Our fly-out menu bar, to the left, can take you anywhere on the ship that you would like to be. It will guide you through each deck on this magnificent ship! If you'd like to read each and every feature, at the bottom of each page is a blue arrow and a link to click which will take you to the next page to read. As mentioned above, we now have a Quick Links feature to help you get to where you want to go to next! We also have Intro Pages for each deck which are listed in the Quick Links section. On these pages are ship's wheels with our crewmember's pictures inside - you can click on the wheel to read a short, fun bio for many of our designers. You can also click on the name of their room on the ship and it will take you directly to their article, or you can email each crewmember directly by clicking on their name! Please write to us and be sure to let us know what you love about SSR!
The Caption Contest has been so much fun on the Ezine Yahoo! Group! We can hardly wait to see each new entry. The featured stamp used in each month's article is also that month's prize.
The Ezine Yahoo Group members voted for their favorite caption and the winner is....
Here is the picture from March:
The winning caption was:
"Have I got a tale to tell you"
by Gail Hesselholt! In WA
For instructions and a closer look see my March 2006 article. Stamp image by Mother Rubber.
For detailed instructions and our current contest, just click on the card. We are having so much fun with this contest on the Ezine Yahoo! Group. I hope you join us!
Cindy Cade is our featured VIP for the first part of April! Cindy is one very hard worker for SSR! She not only does her own feature quite brilliantly each month but she also does the Caption Contest AND just started her own business! We haven't even touched on all that she does as a Mom at home with her very busy family! I'm very pleased to introduce to you our own Cindy Cade in the VIP Lounge! Cindy has been with SSR since October 2004!
Our Designer’s Challenge this month has been sponsored by Frances of Hearts In Touch! Frances has been running Hearts In Touch for about five years now. She doesn’t have as much time to "create," but Frances gets the "warm fuzzies" when she sees the art that her friends have created using her stamps. The beautiful box to the right was created by Cindi Bisson!
Korbyn's Korner - S.S. Reflections Advertiser Spotlight!
korbynmay@ssreflections.com
Director of Sales
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!
Don't forget that we have created a store directory listing for you and if you don't see your favorite store listed, be sure to send them our way! If you own a store and are interested in having your store included (Brick and Mortar stores and Online stores) please contact Cap'n Dawn at publisher@ssreflections.com as we have a very special introductory rate for one full year!
Posh Impressions has a brand new website with Sunday International! Please be sure to check the site regularly to see the featured project!
Hearts in Touch. Now available through Hearts In Touch, Tsukineko, Golden, Stewart Superior, Art Institute Glitter, Jacquard, Junkitz, Speedball, and Making Memories. Coming soon: Krylon, Excel Hobby Blades, Mimi, and Tombow.
New from PaperArtsy: Picture packs (inkjet transparency and collage sheet images -2 for each - ATC size). New stamps so far this year Kids, more Wings and brand new is the Ephemera collection. PaperArtsy: will be launching thier product range in Australia in May at the Stamping Down Under Convention. Print Blocks is their distributor. Leandra will be on hand to teach plenty of classes.
Two Paper Cranes - Click here for a look at the awesome products that Two Paper Cranes is offering! You will want to check their website often for the most recent products added to their store!
If you would like to see your company spotlighted please contact either Korbyn or myself at info@ssreflections.com for information!
Be sure to check our sponsors websites often for monthly specials! Remember, without these very special sponsors we wouldn't have S.S. Reflections for you to enjoy!
News On Deck:
Editorial Deck:
I hope you like how sleek SSR's menu is looking these days and have been able to navigate easily through it to find your favorite features! On our Editorial Deck this month Dawn Shepherd's Tidbits feature is encouraging you to create your own journal! VIP Lounge, is featuring Cindy Cade for the first part of April and in the second half of April we will introduce to you...Stacie Guerra of the Scrapping Deck! Of course, you will find our fun Caption Contest listed on the Editorial Deck too! The photo featured to the right is this months contest card. We will also make mid-month changes to the Editorial Deck so be sure to come back when you receive your newsletters!
Scrapping Deck:
Now on to the Scrapping Deck! Stacie is prioritizing her life! This awesome family portrait to the right is Stacie and Dean and Jordan...I'm pleased as punch to share with you one of my favorite families! Jill is using her old supplies in new ways that you won't want to miss if you are a collector like me! Marilyn's is dabbling in stamped backgrounds for her layouts and has focused on one layout to show you how easy it is to change a plain background piece of cardstock! Cindi is playing with wood this month! If you've been afraid to add wood to your projects in the past...let it go! Cindi has some awesome ideas! Becky's technique this month creating your own hand-made backgrounds with different techniques for you to choose from! Janet is sewing on her pages! We love to share different ways to do various techniques and everyone has their own take on things! I know you will love all that Janet is sharing with you this month!
Digital Deck:
On our Digital Deck this month, we have all sorts of news to share with you! We have a brand new crewmember! I'm thrilled to introduce to you Jen Caputo who is joining our Digital Deck!! Jen will be featured in "Jen's Navigation Niche" and she will be providing you with FREE downloads each month! You will also notice Bill is no longer with us. I'm not sure if you know this but Bill is in the Air Force and has just had a major job change. He has been with SSR since our inception, his ideas, insight and advice have meant a great deal to me and Bill has been a dear friend of mine for 23 years! I've been very blessed to have Bill with SSR for as long as we have, he's been deployed numerous times while with SSR and now feels that he needs to devote his time to his new position. Please join me in wishing Bill all the very best! Tricia and Elizabeth have taken this month off but they will be back in May! Yvonne's tutorial this month is creating digital stencils for your layouts just like the layout featured to the right! Ramie has scrapping before and after pics! I've just lost 24lbs...I can't wait to use Ramie's ideas for myself!! Just wait until you see Dyan's direction on SSR will be changing slightly. As you know Dyan has been creating wonderful tutorials on using fonts and those tutorials are always here for you to use as a resource but Dyan wants to take her features into a digital playground! Tara's tutorial is on digital color blocking! You can get the most out of your layouts with this awesome technique! Jen's first feature is tutorial on layered digital sketches! This is just awesome!!
Stamping Arts Deck:
Now on to the Stamping Art Deck! Andi's checking out the "dark side" and trying her hand at scrapping! Well, we all know that whatever Andi touches she does fabulous at and her scrapping is no exception! So, be sure to see how a confirmed stamper checks out the "dark side"!! If you don't believe me...check out the layout to the right! See...I was "right"!!! Debi has created absolutely gorgeous microscope slides! They come in all shapes and sizes and I know you won't be disappointed! Debi always creates gorgeous art and you can even purchase any of these slides for yourself! Cindy Cade has created some awesome party favor ideas so your guests remember what an awesome party you held! Judy's book and DVD reviews are always fantastic and her artwork is mind blowing on any given day and she hasn't let you down this month either! Judy is reviewing the DVD "Fabricadabra Material Magic" with Sandra McCall! We have a special feature this month...our very own Snow has created a fabulous feature on microscope slides as well! With Debi and Snow showing you how to do it, you can't help but create gorgeous art!
Altered Arts Deck:
Now on to the Altered Arts Deck! We are pleased to have everyone back on the Altered Arts Deck with the exception of Tracey! Tracey, as you may know has embarked on a new business, The Kit Kafe, and has had to leave SSR so she can concentrate on the new kits they create each month! We will miss Tracey but know that she is always close by and she will pop in as a guest when she is able! Cindy is back and we sure did miss her! Cindy's feature this month is experimenting with foil! Don't be afraid of the unknown...with Cindy around you know you will receive the help you need and create gorgeous art as you learn! The piece of art featured to the right was created by Cindy! Robin is also back this month and she never disappoints us! This month Robin's art is inspired by the movies! I love learning how everyone receives their inspiration and I'm sure you will love all that Robin's muse has created! Suzanne is celebrating her love of altered art with all of you! This month is no exception! Suzanne has been altering boxes, birdcages, well...you get the idea! It's ALL fabulous!! Wendy has been creating with slide mounts but with a different angle...she's using the slide mounts in her altered art! I'm sure that these gorgeous creations will sell very quickly in Wendy's new shop!!
Communications Deck:
Well, you've probably read about this already if you made it down this far in my article, but we are so excited about our new Interactive Reader's Gallery! that I have to take this last opportunity to tell you about it! You can upload all the designs that you want to share with us ANYTIME you'd like! We have an opportunity to make comments and talk about the products you used and the techniques! The card to the right is just a sample of some of the beautiful work you can see on our new gallery! What is so awesome about this new Reader's Gallery is that it can change daily...even hourly!! You'll want to definitely add this to your favorites and come back often! We have always loved to showcase all our readers' artwork and now we can show even more! This would include, stamped art, scrapped layouts and digital layouts and even favorite photos too! The card to the right is featured in our new gallery and was created by Wanda H!
Final Thoughts:
Thank you so much for joining us and being apart of our cruise to Singapore! We have so much inside this issue to share with you and I hope you get many hours of enjoyment by all we have to offer! Its a good thing you have the whole month to enjoy this fabulous issue of S.S. Reflections! Remember to count your blessings each day and know that each new day is a very special blessing to you! We hope you will be able to relax and enjoy your favorite online Ezine, S.S. Reflections!
As always,
Cap'n Dawn
publisher@ssreflections.com
Publisher
Reflections Publishing Group
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