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July 1, 2007
From the Helm - Welcome to SSR!
Cap'n Dawn Heath,Publisher
Photo compliments of Wikipedi, the free encyclopedia
I have been researching online about the Arab Republic of Egypt and I have come to the conclusion that you just can't sum up thousands of years into a few paragraphs. Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization, the mysteries of the Nile River and some of the world's most famous monuments, including the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx; the southern city of Luxor contains a particularly large number of ancient artifacts such as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Today, Egypt is widely regarded as an important political and cultural centre of the Middle East. Following the completion of the Suez Canal by Ismail in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub. Which of course we will virtually travel through on as we head to our next destination!
Photo compliments of Wikipedi, the free encyclopedia
As I have travelled virtually from different websites learning about Egypt I've been completely awestruck by the beauty of Egypt and the many treasures found in a country I have only read about in a geography book in school. This country is so much more than just a few pages in a book and I hope you don't mind if I share with you some of the websites I've visited. Please take a few minutes to see some of the photos that have been taken. One day I want to really be here at the entrance to the Valley of the Kings or walking around the Mosque of Muhammad Ali as it dominates the Citadel and seeing the impressive ivory color of the mosque myself. I just can't imagine all the work that went into creating these many treasures. We are so fortunate to be able to see a small part of this in our many museums but the magnatude of standing next to one of the great pyramids or a Sphinx would be completely well, mind blowing really. There is so much of this world we have yet to see. The Republic of Egypt is definitely at the top of my list.
Images of The Nile and Egypt
Egypt Sons Gallery
Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia
Egypt.com - Today's Egypt
Tour Egypt
Snow Davidson is one of our own, Snow has been part of SSR from the very beginning and is a very special part of our family. We have shared the joys of Snow's grandchildren with her and a few weeks ago we were hit with the very real diagnosis of a very fast growing cancerous tumor in the abdomen of 7 year old Maddie. As you can imagine, Snow and her family are still reeling from this news. Maddie is scheduled to have a shunt installed this week and next week Maddie will begin a very strong course of chemo. She will lose her lovely hair but she is very optimistic and this fact doesn't even faze her.
We are all feeling very helpless right now. We just don't know what to do except to pray and create cards to encourage Maddie and her family. There have been many cards sent so far and we thought that as Maddie will be in and out of the hospital that we could create this page "Prayers for Maddie". Then, no matter where Maddie or her family are they will always have the encouragement and love and prayers with them at the touch of a button.
If you would like to participate in this particular idea please send me a scan of your card to Maddie and her family to editor@ssreflections.com. Please size the scan to 475 pixels before you email it to me and include your first and last name. I will update this page as often as possible with news from the family on Maddie with what they are comfortable sharing with us. This is all to encourage Maddie and her family and we will respect their privacy at all times. No information will be shared on this page without the full consent of the family.
I don’t know about you, but I know for a fact that Brook has been having a lot of "Fun in the Sun." There were some really nice layouts that were posted in the "Fun In The Sun" Reader's Gallery Contest for June. The layouts each used bright colors to lift the spirit and were such fun. But alas...a winner had to be chosen. It is my pleasure to announce the winner of the June Reader’s Gallery Contest.
Congratulations Aparna!
Thank you to everyone who participated and I hope you try again this month as we have a fun theme for you so start creating!
Our theme for the July contest is:
All entries must be based on the theme for the current months contest. All entries must be uploaded to the SSR Reader's Gallery! Entries must be uploaded no later than the 15th of the month so we have time to conduct a poll. All members of the Reader's Gallery can vote!
You can use any form of art to express yourself. Cards, Altered Art, Traditional Scrapbook Layouts or Digital Layouts are all fantastic ways to express your creativity. Post your art! While you are at it, get your friends to post their layouts also. Let’s make this challenge a fun excursion on your cruise.
At the end of the contest a poll will be set up on the message board. The winner will be announced when the upcoming monthly issue is launched! The winner will receive prize package valued at $25 which is sponsored by Keepsake Designs. Thank you Becky!
Here is the picture from June's contest:
The winning quote is
"Hang in there. It's almost Friday."
Submitted by Patricia Miner in TX
Congratulations Pat!
Now, if you'd like to see the July Caption Contest card, you'll have to scroll down to the News On Deck! 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/
Our Designer’s Challenge is sponsored by our own Yvonne Busdeker of www.ybscrapbooking.com. In 2003, Yvonne began to explore the new world of digital scrapbooking. 10 years after her first scrapbook page, Yvonne is a hybrid scrapbooker and digital designer. Today, Yvonne owns her own business, YB Scrapbooking and is a respected freelance digital designer and consultant. She works with numerous companies in developing their digital products and services. Yvonne also enjoys a Design Team Manger position with WorldWin Papers. In addition, she travels the country teaching digital scrapbooking to sold out classrooms. Yvonne is married and lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons, who keep her VERY busy!
Yvonne’s work can be purchased at www.polkadotpotato.com and soon www.ybscrapbooking.com. In the meantime, check out our designers work to whet your appetite for this newly designed digital kit! Enjoy and check out Yvonne’s other exciting kits today! The design to the right was created by Robin Willis!
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!
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 adsales@ssreflections.com for more information. There is a minimal fee to be included in our directory program of only $50 for one full year. SSR keeps it's costs to you 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
Authentic Memories: has an unprecedented offer of scrapbook supplies valued at $350 for only $90 and they will pay for the shipping!
Exclusive papercraft designs as well as the digital scrapbook package you’ve been dreaming of to create beautiful layouts in no time at all. Easy enough for beginners to look like pros and flexible enough for pros to love as well.
Click thru to see a photo and complete list of all the wonderful goodies waiting for you; white chipboard, bling, textured-papers, rub-ons, cards, ribbons and so much more!
Hearts in Touch: The new Oriental Embossing Board from Glitter Girls... "Eastern Promise". HIT is taking pre-orders NOW!!
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.
HIT is now featuring...
PaperArtsy: New from PaperArtsy this past May 2007 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 either Korbyn or myself at adsales@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!
We have a fabulous July issue for you! As we made our way from Australia to Egypt we had to make a quick stop in New Zealand to pick up a very special crewmember...Please join us in welcoming back our very own Wendy Pettifer who is back in Wendy's Kiwi Studio on the Altered Arts Deck!
Donalda Cox has joined SSR as our Ezine Yahoo! Group SWAP Coordinator! Please join us in welcoming Donalda to SSR! She has lots of great SWAP ideas so now is the time to join and have some SWAP fun! We have all had such a great time preparing our trip to Egypt for you. So without further delay let me tell you what the crew has created just for you!
On our Editorial Deck we have a fun and fabulous monthly Caption Contest! The card to the right is our Caption Contest card for July. You'll need to join our Yahoo! Ezine Group to post your caption ideas! The July contest is sponsored by Innovative Stamp Creations! So, start sharing your captions on the Ezine Yahoo! Group!
"Red, White and Blue - It’s Up to You!" is the theme for Brook's July Reader's Gallery Contest! Keepsake Designs has provided a prize valued at $25 for the Reader's Gallery Contest!
Now on to the Scrapping Deck! Anita is scrapping outside the theme box. What that means is that she is scrapping her photos outside the "normal" theme...you won't want to miss this special feature especially if you suffer from scrappers block!
Jill is experimenting with different glitter and adhesives. If you have been wondering what works best and how to adhere it the easiest way then this tutorial is just for you! Not only do you get your questions answered but Jill has created fabulous layouts to prove how versatile glitter is!
Stacie Stacie has a whole new sketch to challenge you with this month! This next sketch Stacie found on a digital scrapbooking site called 3Scrapateers (http://www.3scrapateers.com). This site offers all kinds of sketches for about any kind of layout you have in mind! This particular sketch was designed by Nicole Durtschi for one photo. So, meet this challenge and share your ideas with all of us! The layout to the right is a sample to get you started!
On our Digital Deck this month Ramie has a special tutorial helping you to organize your digital photos. Ramie has over 9,000 photos and she will share a very simple way to help you organize your photos!
Yvonne is going to teach you how to make a quick and easy photo template for yourself! The layout to the right is a fabulous layout using one of Yvonne's favorite 9 block templates.
Now it's time for the Stamping Art Deck! Debi has lots of inspiration for you on creating Sentiment cards. Debi has a list of many sites you can visit for the right phrase and some beautiful cards to inspire you!
Flo is stamping on papyrus in honor of our trip to Egypt. Papyrus paper making is an ancient art that was exclusive to Egyptian guilds for many centuries and Flo has created many beautiful cards using different mediums. The card to the right is one of Flo's samples using chalk ink!
Judy's DVD review this month is "Impressive Ideas Wrapped with Love" by Babs Scarlett & Kathy Mills, the "Glitter Girls"! By using their embossing boards and a ball tool that can be purchased through Hearts in Touch. We've been hearing so much about these embossing boards and Judy has some fabulous designs to share with you!
Now on to the Altered Arts Deck! Robin has been receiving a lot of questions asking about where to start with an altered book. So, Robin has dedicated this feature to answering that question and sharing lots of ideas on how to do your own backgrounds with lots of gorgeous samples to inspire you!
Wendy's first feature back with us is a tutorial on using canvases which are a fun way to make some unique wall hangings, especially when combining two or more canvases in the same theme. The canvas art to the right is a fabulous design Wendy has created just for her first issue back!
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 in and share what you are most proud of! The beautiful summer card to the right was created by Wanda H.! So, don't be shy...share your ideas with us!! You just never know what we'll feature next or who we'll ask to be a guest designer on SSR!! IT COULD BE YOU!!! The photo gallery is so much fun and filled with fantastic designs...stamped art, digital layouts and scrapped layouts not to mention the photo gallery! 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! You'll want to definitely add this to your favorites and come back often!
I was very touched and overwhelmed by the private emails I received last month in response to the announcement of my recent wedding. I just wanted to take this moment to thank you for your prayers and good wishes. What a very special blessing the readers of SSR are to this family and most especially to me. I hope that you are enjoying your summer. Life here is always crazy. My boys are going through some growth spurts as they are doing an awful lot of eating! But, it's all good. We're having fun and I'm enjoying spending time with them. I suspect things will be very different next year when Mitch is 16 and driving so every day is precious.
I know that the crew joins me as we all wish you and your family a very Happy 4th of July celebration! Keep safe. I hope you are able to sit and enjoy reading this very special issue of SSR. Please keep Maddie in your prayers and be sure to send a scan of the cards you send to Maddie and her family. Remember to take a moment in each day and count your blessings. I know that you are all a very special blessing to me.
Happy summer,
Cap'n Dawn
publisher@ssreflections.com
Publisher
Reflections Publishing Group
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