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July 2, 2006
From the Helm
Cap'n Dawn Heath,Publisher
This month we are visiting the enormous country of South Africa! In doing my research on this amazing counry I quickly became overwhelmed by everything there is to know! The South African government have a very thorough website with thousands of photos in their gallery and many pages of information on their glorious country! The photo to the right was taken by D. Allen in Johannesburg. Copyright: South African Tourism. I received special permission from the South African Tourism Board to share their link with you. If you have the time, please visit their site and if you are planning a trip to South Africa they have so much information to make your trip the best trip ever! Their gallery is just fabulous and I hope you have a few minutes to take a look at the South Africa Official Website
The goal of S.S. Reflections has always been to make the world just a little bit smaller and that you can enjoy visiting these beautiful countries virtually with us! Please be sure to share your own inspirations with all of us and we have made this even easier for you with our brand new interactive Readers Photo Gallery! Liz in the U.K. shared some of her pics to the UAE last February with me this past month that were fabulous! Thank you Liz for taking the time to share your experience with me!
Okay, so I'll admit it, this part is probably getting a bit long in the tooth for you as its been here for a while now but it really is a great way to explain what we are doing to those who are joining us for the first time so I hope you don't mind that its still here! After all, all these updates took a great deal of time and effort to create and we're still quite proud of how much we have evolved over the past 2 1/2 years! 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! We have awesome 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! 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? You don't have to read our newsletter from the website, you can have it delievered to your inbox! 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 awesome project featured to the right was created by Becky in honor of our cruise to South Africa! Wouldn't you just love to have this hanging in your house?
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 for you 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 our click to link which will take you to the next page to read as though you were turning a page of a paper magazine! Each page is linked to the next. 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 an into page 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 your favorite designer and be sure to let her know what you love about her and SSR!
Our June caption contest was a first for Jill and a lot of fun to those who participated! We had some awesome captions sent in by our ezine group participants but alas, we can have only one winner...but, we couldn't help but share some of the other captions submitted!!
As a quick recap, the picture from June's contest is to the right!
"Pentacle - The Sacred Feminine" and "Okay girls, now all we need is water"
and especially with our winning caption:
"ALTOGETHER NOW...Y-M-C-A...It’s fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A"
by Michi Michaelson
Congratulations Michi!
For detailed instructions on the card featured please click on the card itself and it will take you to the Caption Contest page where all the details are available!
Well, I'm embarrassed to say this but the VIP Lounge feature is on me this month! (this is why its not listed on the front page intro!) What can I tell you about myself that you don't already know? I have been sharing my family and my life with you each month already so what else is there to share with you? I have several nicknames...I'm a pretty goofy person (based on what my friends and family keep telling me) and being a Mom has been the greatest job in the world to me (SSR is a very close second!) have I mentioned how great my boys are before? If you are interested in more...you can read up in the VIP Lounge feature! I don't want to spoil all the fun by telling you everything HERE!
Our Designer’s Challenge this month has been sponsored by Christina of Lazar Studio-Werx. Christina was just recently featured as our Celebrity Headliner this past March and now we get to show you some samples our crew has created using Christina's awesome line of stamps! The gorgeous card to the right was created by our very own Robin Willis! I just love how the SSR design crew can all create awesome work using the same stamps! It truly shows just how versatile one or two stamps can be!
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 CEO, Warren Gruenig has great things to share with you:
Rubber Stamping Is Making Comeback but With a Twist -
Unmounted rubber stamps with the EZ Mount cushion used with acrylic mounts are creating attention with two major movements occuring:
1. Stampers are removing rubber from wooden mounts and then using them with EZ Mount cushions and acrylic mounts. Some call it "dismounting".
2. Sunday International is influencing stamp companies to join the change toward making EZ Mount a standard that will soon be evident. Even respected, prestigious Magenta is beginning to go in this direction.
Based on sales, people seem to like the way the EZ Mount system works. It provides stamps at an affordable cost, solves storage problems, makes precise placement of images easy with acrylic mounts, makes organization of stamps simple, makes transporting of an entire collection a breeze and provides inexpensive mailing of orders from the U.S. to countries abroad due to the lightness of packages shipped without wood.
Sunday International is also having success with their new designs by well known designer Dee Gruenig with on-line sales nearly doubling during the months of March and April of 2006. Additionally, Sunday has experienced five sales records in a row during the past six months since Dee has begun working with them.
The Vertical Inspirations Collection of slender stamps, available both as single stamps and in sets, are especially popular. One reason for success is probably inclusion of icons, borders and backgrounds within a single VI set. The variety of images can be mixed and combined for many variations while still being simple to use. It is even possible to glance at VI sets and immediately see the many combinations possible. Products and projects for them may be seen at Posh Impressions.
Dee works with Sunday International using her Posh Ltd. brand while she employs flagship Posh Impressions, working directly under license with venerable All Night Media, for the wood mounted stamps that will always have their partial fans. Other licenses for Dee are Uchida of America for her Blending Blox stamp pads and signature brush art markers, Ranger for the Rainbow Sponge with Inkabilities inks and until recently, Mrs. Grossman’s for bold stickers. More recently added, not under license, have been companies Colonial Needle for the new Sailor pastel pens in 8 colors modeled after the versatile Write Writer pen and the Jupiter OTT-LITE desk lamp with built in magnifying glass that Dee uses for stamping in both her studio and in her own home. She serves companies Colonial Needle and OTT-LITE as advisor.
Hearts in Touch. Have fun with these exciting brand new FUN FRAMES©. The is an exclusive new line by Hearts in Touch! The frames are die cut cardstock with scores ready in place with holes when folded provide for wall hanging using simple common pins. Simple and easy to use you can decorate these FUN FRAMES© to your hearts content! To see more about Fun Frames check out our Stateroom feature this past June!
Hearts In Touch Rubber Stamps also has 3 new sheets available!
#93 People & Their Pets
#94 Sugar & Spice
#95 Masks
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: has just launched their product range in Australia this past May at the Stamping Down Under Convention. Print Blocks is their distributor. Leandra was on hand to teach plenty of classes.
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:
Now on to what our crew has been up to for you this month! On our Editorial Deck this month Dawn Shepherd's Tidbits feature will be her last. As you know, Dawn has her own business, Mother Rubber Art Stamps and it is growing in leaps and bounds and requires her to travel a lot! We will miss Dawn in so many ways, she has also been my assistant in keeping things on track! I'm really going to miss her!! VIP Lounge, is featuring me. Okay, I've already told you that but I have to keep things true to form and share all the news on each 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. This card is sure to generate a ton of fun captions!! I can't wait to read your ideas!!
Scrapping Deck:
Now on to the Scrapping Deck! Becky's feature this month is creating home decor! You have already viewed a sample of Becky's fabulous work as it is the featured design that is for sale! Cindi is taking using your ribbon one step further! I have taught a few classes on using ribbons and I absolutely LOVE Cindi's ideas! I'm certain that you will too! If you don't believe me, check out the design to the right! Janet is teaching you to create your own funky alphabets with chip board with fabulous results! Jill has gone mad over office supplies! Okay, I'll admit it...I love shopping at the office supply store as much as the hardware store so you already know that I love this feature! I'm sure you will too! Jill has some very cool ideas to share with us! Marilyn is working on summer baseball themed layouts to encourage you as you keep up with all your children's activities! Marilyn is awesome at keeping us on track! Stacie recently went on a real cruise and is sharing her cruise themed photos and layouts with us! So, sit back and enjoy Stacies cruise to the Caribbean! Shuffleboard anyone?
Digital Deck:
On our Digital Deck this month, you'll see that its a little small this month. Family holidays came up all at the same time! But, you'll want to check back regularly as we'll have an additional surprise for you any day now! Dyan's tutorial this month is teaching us how to digitally brayer our backgrounds! This is such a cool feature!! This is bound to entice our stampers to try their hand at using their computer to create artwork!! You can see one of Dyan's samples to the right! Now I want to see some of YOUR samples uploaded to our photo gallery!! Now, I told you at the beginning of July that you'll want to check back often because I would have a special update for you...well, here it is! The next edition of Jens Digital Sketches is HERE! The fabulous design to the right is one of Jen's gorgeous sketches for July! Yvonne's tutorial will enhance any digital creations by teaching you how to create your fun elements! We're talking about brads, eyelets, buttons and sliders! Our Digital deck may be small this month but it certainly packs a punch as Yvonne and Dyan have just fabulous tutorials for you!! is month but it certainly packs a punch as Yvonne and Dyan have just fabulous tutorials for you!!
Stamping Arts Deck:
Now on to the Stamping Art Deck! Our Stamping Arts Deck is short a couple of designers this month due to illness but the quality of the content you'll find in Debi and Judy's features is just superb! Debi's feature this month is about adding shimmer to our designs. Debi has created an excellent tutorial on this for you and you can see a sample of her fabulous work to the right! Judy's DVD review this month is "Polymer Clay Treasures" with Lisa Pavelka which is of the PageSage DVD collection! Judy's samples are just breathtaking and if you haven't tried polymer clay yet I'm sure this will certainly entice you! Debi and Judy have worked very hard for you and GORGEOUS is just such an appropriate word to describe all that they have done! Please let them know how much they have inspired you by dropping them a quick email!
Altered Arts Deck:
Now on to the Altered Arts Deck! Cindy has done a very special review on a brand new stamp company called "Pansy Lane Rubber Stamps" and our crew have jumped in to show you some wonderful designs! Tracy, the owner of Pansy Lane has created some beautiful images for her stamps! Robin has been altering with foil! I don't know about you but I think foil rocks and Robin has had so much fun with this feature I'm sure you will agree! Sue is flying! She has wings! If you don't believe me you will have to see for yourself! Sue has created gorgeous pieces or art and they have wings...yes, you guessed it...Sue has created altered angels and they are just precious!
Communications Deck:
Our Interactive Reader's 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! 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! The gorgeous card to the right was created by Adrienne Goodenough using her Posh Inks!
Final Thoughts:
I apologize for making you wait an extra day to see this fabulous issue of S.S. Reflections! I thank you for your patience! I hope that you enjoy this issue as we visit South Africa and realize that it was worth the wait! We are always honored by your choosing to come aboard SSR for all the fun we can offer! We wish you all a wonderful and safe 4th of July with your families as we celebrate the birth of this wonderful nation! Remember to find the joy in each day. I read a quote the other day that has stuck with me. I hope you don't mind if I share it with you by Robert Browning, "God's in His heaven - All's right with the world". Well, there are many situations in our world that are in need of fixing but we can only tackle one thing at a time. If we can just take it one day at a time and do what we can to make it a good one! All of us at SSR hope you will be able to relax and enjoy your favorite online Ezine, S.S. Reflections! Thank you for allowing SSR to be part of your day!
As always,
Cap'n Dawn
publisher@ssreflections.com
Publisher
Reflections Publishing Group
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