Counter Assertion

Here is the basic idea for any scrapbook, for Mother’s Day just add more personal stuff like memories that would special to her. Favorite photos, colors, flowers, a lock of hair, things that would show her how much she means to you. A scrapbook is a wonderfully personal Mother’s Day gift.

1. Sort your photos and select a theme to work on, generally, 5-7 photos fit on a two-page spread and 3-5 photos fit on a single page. Select only the best photos to highlight the event, feeling or moment you want to convey.

2. Select 2-3 colors of safe paper that will complement colors found in the photographs. Experiment with different color combinations to find the perfect colors to enhance your photographs. You may want to include stationary or decorative paper that supports the theme of your pages.

3. Choose a photo to be your focal point. As a general rule, select photos with sharp images, vivid colors, and well-lit subjects.

4. Shape and mat your photos to add extra prominence to your focal point. You can do this easily by matting your photo with a wider border than the others, or double or triple-matting it. While shaping your photos, keep in mind that simple shapes such as rectangles, ovals, circles, and squares are among the most eye-pleasing shapes. If irrelevant or distracting details appear in the background, simply trim them out. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean you have to cut out all of the backgroundfrequently, ordinary items pictured in the background will bring a flood of memories essential to journaling and reminiscing.

5. Add journaling. No page is complete without adding your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Take a few minutes to write down not only the “who” and “when,” but also the “what” and “why.”

6. Arrange photos, journaling, and titles on your page. As you arrange these elements, pay close attention to the direction your eye moves. In general, well-designed pages are well balanced and will follow a natural flow that mimics the letter Z. To check the balance, imagine that your layout is on a scale. Does one side tip the scale? Once you’re pleased with the layout, simply adhere the elements to the page.

7. Try a few extras. As you get more comfortable with scrap booking, try your hand with some embellishments stickers, die cuts, rubber stamps, and punches are among the most popular page accents. Use these items sparingly you don’t want them to overpower your photos.

Nicola Kennedy has enjoyed some great Mother’s Days, both as a grateful mom and a loving daughter. She can help you find great Mother’s Day gifts with tips and news, information and views at www.I-Love-My-Mom.com

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright www.I-Love-My-Mom.com

Your cousin’s friend in Saskatchewan has asked you to design a custom bracelet for her. You have all the beads, materials, and tools, but you’re stumped about the length. She doesn’t have a clue about her wrist measurement, or a flexible measuring tape to use, and you’re not about to travel that far north to measure her wrist. What do you do?

Simple. Ask her to take a piece of string, wrap it around the wrist on which she’ll
wear the bracelet, and mark where the end of the string meets the string on her
wrist. Then she should take the string and measure the length from the end to the
mark on a ruler. Voila - measurement!

At that point, add 1/2 inch to 1 inch, depending on the style of the bracelet. Dangle
bracelets or those with large beads will need closer to an inch, since they “float”
above the skin. If you are using a toggle on a bracelet that fits closely, 1/2 inch may
do it. Use your judgment.

The same technique can be used on anklets. For necklaces, different woman can be
very different, depending on build. Therefore I tend to go for adjustability, adding a
lobster claw clasp and extender chain about four inches long. A guideline, however,
is 16″ for a choker, 18″ for princess length, 20″ for matinee length (casual or
business dressing), and 24″ for longer pendant necklaces. You can also make your
designs modular, adding or subtracting jump rings or components to make the
necklace longer or shorter.

If you want the necklace to be a perfect fit for a specific woman, just ask the woman
to hold a piece of string around her neck and adjust it until it is the same length as
the necklace she wants. Then, the same as with the bracelet, she should just
measure the length of the piece of string and give you the length. Remember to
include the length of your clasp when you are making your necklace!

Author Susan Midlarsky of Aspiring
Arts handcrafts jewelry with stones that
harmonize well and are beneficial to the human body, color combinations that are
connected to refinement, and sometimes offerings from nature. She has also
recently started making glass beads; you can see her progress at her online blog. Susan loves the
magical glow people feel upon finding a piece of jewelry that suits them or fills a
need.

1

Woman from Alabam’

I once known a woman from Alabam’
Who would kiss with a slam and a bang!
And-all I could smell, when we made love,

so well,
Was cabbage, snuff and chicken-wings.

#1196 2/10/06

2

The He-bee

The He-bee
Said to the she-bee
“Stand still a while,
I’m going to make you smile;
Give you some honey~!”

#1195 2/10/06

3

The Nut in the Rut

Here’s to you ‘Nut!’
Who’s stuck in a rut,
With slimy hips and all;
I’d rather die, in some
Pumpkin pie, than kiss

Those drippin’ lips!

#1197 2/10/06

Flat on her Back

Flat on her back she
Called to me
Said she had something
And it was free…
But something for nothin’
Didn’t include pussy…!

#1198 1/10/06

Note: you see in Siluk’s poetry a zest for life, with some sparks; he lives in a world that is his own, for the most part, most of the time, and has lived in most places he’s written about. He lived in Alabama for 2 1/2 years in the late ’60s and again in the late 70’s. His German poems, take the road he traveled in Germany, as well as his time in Seattle, San Francisco, Minnesota and Peru. Some with humor like the ones on African American Poetry, and some on tradition which deal with Peru; and some on the winters of Minnesota. Thus, he seems to reach to whatever his mood is for the places he’s been to. Rosa

See Dennis’ web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com