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February 1, 2008
From the Helm - Welcome to SSR!
Cap'n Dawn Heath,Publisher
We are so happy that you are joining us on our excursion to Malaysia and Indonesia! I can't wait to explore all there is in this beautiful part of the world and how do you feel about spending a day or two in Singapore for some shopping? Doesn't that sounds like fun? I was watching a program on the Travel Channel this past Sunday called "Living with the Kombai Tribe: The Adventures of Mark and Olly". The documentary followed extreme travelers Mark Anstice and Olly Steeds embark on a unique expedition into the dense jungles of West Papua, New Guinea to track down and live with the remarkable Kombai tribe. The program was absolutely mesmerizing. When Mark and Olly left the tribe at the end of the 3 months I cried along with their adopted family. I learned so much about the rain forest of West Papua and it has really encouraged me to get out and see more of this world. Have you ever visited a country outside of your comfort zone?
I hope you are enjoying these beautiful photos of Malaysia that Cricket is sharing with us! Cricket visited Malaysia a couple of years ago and was actually back in that part of the world this past month! I can't wait to see what Cricket is going to share with us over the next few months! I'm so happy to have our world traveler home as I've missed her!
Now, it is time to move on to all the wonderful inspirations we have to share with you 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 "Designs by Shelle"! Shelle’s site will definitely keep you busy if you love digital goodies! Besides a wide array of sets and kits, Shelle also offers CD burning services, quick pages and albums, as well as Designer Resources that allows for professional use by Digital Scrapbook Designers. The digital layout using Shelle's specially designed digital kit for SSR featured to the right was designed by Brook Campbell!
Here is the picture from January's contest:
The winning quote is
"That bee looks like it's headed for my asp!"
Submitted by Karen Robinson!
Congratulations Karen!
Now, if you'd like to see the January 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 I Brake for Stamps for sponsoring the February Caption Contest! We at SSReflections appreciate our sponsors so much!
The new year has gotten off with a bang! I have had such a wonderful time thinking back on the highlights of 2007 and thinking about the future. I know that everyone has been very busy recovering from their holidays also. There weren’t many entries into the contest this month, but the two entries we did receive are fabulous!
We announced last month that the January contest will be Brook's last with us. At this time we have no one to take this contest over so we will end it. If you are interested in taking over the reigns for Brook please feel free to email me at editor@ssreflections.com. Thank you all so much for participating in the fun! Brook has done such a wonderful job organizing this contest each month...we will definitely miss Brook and her wonderful ideas! Thank you Brook!
If you want to see who the winner of the January Reader's Gallery Contest you'll have to visit Brook's Gallery page and see the fabulous designs submitted for January! All entries must be based on the theme for the current months contest. All entries must be uploaded to the SSR Reader's Gallery!
The winner will receive prize package valued at $25 which is sponsored by Keepsake Designs. Thank you Becky!
Donalda has been busy organizing such awesome swaps on the Ezine Yahoo! Group. The swap featured right now is from the Notebook swap this past January. The cover featured to the right was created by Dawn McFarland! 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!
Altered Pages: What's black and white and red all over? Our new Kit of the Month - you have to see it! The new Kit of the Month is gorgeous if I do say so myself! It's fun to look at, fun to make, and looks like you spent a fortune on it! See this gorgeous kit and all the other beautiful Altered Pages kits! http://www.alteredpages.com/kitofthemonth.html
Don't forget the Collage Sheet Club - shipping now! Get all 12 new collage sheets from Altered Pages before they're even released on the website. Prepay for six months and receive free shipping for six months.
With any purchase of $20 or more, receive the Mini Flowers Collage Sheet - see it on the New Products Page http://www.alteredpages.com/newproducts.html
Jackie had a special offer for all new customers! $5.00 off any first order with the coupon code NEWCUSTOMER
Hearts in Touch has new images available and more coming soon!
Visit the Hearts in Touch website to see the "#112 HIT / Becky Chabot Flourishes" images.
Join our group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartsInTouchRubberStamps/ and keep up to date on all the new products coming along very soon and meet a lot of wonderful crafting friends.
We also have free, online classes at the HIT website chat room. Anyone is welcome to join.
PaperArtsy: New from PaperArtsy this past spring are the mini stamps. These are on EZ mount and perfect for ATC's, small gift cards and 'inchie' art.
Also new from the 'Urban Snapshots' Stamp Collection is the Fancy Dress series and Wrought Iron series of 4 plates in each of these families. Check out www.paperartsy.co.uk
Stamp and Scrap Canada: Stamp and Scrap Canada: Read our latest newsletter online - http://www.stampandscrapcanada.com/papercraftnewsletter.html
See what's new in the shop (items added regularly) - http://www.stampandscrapcanada.com/new.html
We've got a HUGE clearance sale going on - 25 to 50% off on lots of items (most are 40% off) - http://www.stampandscrapcanada.com/sale.html
And if you're buying regular priced products here's a couple ecoupon codes you can use. Type the ecoupon code in the text box on the shopping cart page.
To get $5 off an order that includes $40 @ regular prices type: ssreflections5
To get $15 off $100 @ regular prices type: ssreflections15
If you would like to see your company spotlighted please contact us at info@ssreflections.com for information!
Be sure to check our sponsors websites often for monthly specials! Remember, without the VIP sponsors we wouldn't have S.S. Reflections for you to enjoy!
Would you like to be part of the best online magazine on the internet? Are you interested in hanging out with the best designers out there? What about being part of the fun we have on SSR and off? If you are interested in joining the SSR crew please send 5 samples of your work and a sample of your writing. Just write as though it will be your first article on SSR! You can write about a product you love, a subject that means a lot to you, or even using a color theme or a favorite technique. Send your writing sample in Word format (preferred) and your designs to editor@ssreflections.com
Please size your jpgs to 475 pixels (the longest side) so it is easier to send through email. You need to be aware before you apply that if you are chosen to be a member of the crew you agree to commit to our deadline for your submissions each month.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email me at editor@ssreflections.com and I will do all I can to help! If you applied once before don't hesitate to apply again.
We've shared all the exciting features on the Editorial Deck above so we will no longer include it in the "News On Deck" feature of the Welcome page.
Let's start with the Scrapping Deck:
Kelli is sharing a fabulous project with you this month! She's created a home journal to help you get organized for 2008. This is a great idea for every one to help keep those piles growing on the counter top you don't use all that much or on your desktop! I'm a great one for having "important" piles on my desk. This is definitely a project that I need to do myself!
On our Digital Deck this month:
Yvonne is also getting organized! Yvonne is organizing her scrap room and she's sharing just how she accomplished it! She has a sketch of what she wanted and then created a couple of fun layouts to remember the process! I love seeing how everyone else organizes their craft rooms! Maybe we should share how everyone has organized their craft rooms? I love organizing almost as much as scrapbooking myself!
Now it's time for the Stamping Art Deck!
Cindy Seabright is sharing how to create a Kokopelli wall hangers of Indonesia which is fertility deity, he is a trickster god, and is considered to represent the spirit of music. Cindy always brings part of the heart of each country we visit into her articles and I love learning from Cindy's research!
Flo inspiring us with some beautiful Valentine cards that you can make for yourself! Flo will guide you as you find your muse and develop your own sense of style. She has lots of wonderful ideas to get you started and some gorgeous cards to inspire you as you get started!
Judy's has gone a different route with her feature this month and has done a review on Dee Gruenig's stamps and product line found at Sunday International! Judy has worked very hard on this review and it is just fabulous! She shares all different products and has created such beautiful pieces of art just for you! The card to the right is one of Judy's examples for you!
Now for the news on the Altered Arts Deck!
Michaela has created some fabulous children's altered Valentines for teachers! Michaela's cards are just adorable and so much fun to create! What are your plans for Valentine's Day? Are you doing anything special? Why don't you share with Michaela how you were inspired by her fun cards and who you are creating your cards for?
Robin has done a wonderful review on PaperArtsy which is a small, family run company owned by Mark and Leandra Franich since August 2004. Robin has created some fabulous samples to share with you using some of the many products PaperArtsy sells! PaperArtsy is also a VIP sponsor of SSR so be sure to tell Leandra "hi" when you stop my her online store! You can see one sample of Robin's designs to the right!
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 Valentine's card to the right was created by Wanda H. 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 Ezine Yahoo! group, and the interactive reader's gallery!
This issue is full of wonderful organizational ideas and special Valentine's Day cards to inspire you. We actually have an extra day this month as it's a leap year! My oldest son Mitch was actually due on February 29 but he was a late arrival and came on March 12 so he is really going to be 16 this year instead of 4 ;-)! That means that you have an extra day to read your favorite online ezine...SSR! Don't keep this fabulous gem a secret though...be sure to share it with all your friends! I hope you can find some time to join us and share your organizational tips and your own designs! We'd love to see them!
Thank you once again for bringing SSR into your home. We've had so much snow this past month I'm hoping the groundhog doesn't see his shadow tomorrow as I'm ready for spring now!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Cap'n Dawn
publisher@ssreflections.com
Publisher
Reflections Publishing Group
http://dawntheath.blogspot.com/
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