Spring's Triumphant Return
Good Friday and the Easter holiday, even the onset of spring, have literally sneaked up on me this year. Regardless, it is my favorite holiday, full of hope and promise and color! What a perfect time to reflect on these holidays, the encroaching new season and how we celebrate them in our families and culture. Growing up, Easter was a huge event in my family, almost a greater holiday than Christmas. To this day I can still smell the ham smoking that my Grandfather would prepare each year! I have a piece of a wisteria vine that grew in his backyard and every year - I do mean EVERY - we would take our Easter pictures in front of this wisteria bush. Although it’s still early, I already see huge buds ready to burst forth with these aromatic blooms! Of course I will think of my grandfather each time I walk beneath them. While there is still snow in many parts of the world, the flowers, bees and birds have made a triumphant return in my part of the country. Colors and smells are bursting forth everywhere! It is definitely spring in Arkansas and my allergies are proof positive of it! The poets have said, “spring brings hope eternal” and demonstrates to each of us that life can have new beginnings over and over again. As I look at the wisteria bush and think of my grandfather, as I see the daffodils blooming from bulbs planted by someone who lived here before me, and I watch the migrating birds return home again – I see the ever revolving cycle of life turning once again. There are so many sights, sounds and smells of this holiday, this season, that I'm not even sure where to begin documenting my memories of our family traditions and the things I want my children to know and remember. Perhaps it will be the traditions of our favorite meal, or the “Easter Tree” that blooms plastic eggs filled with candy and money. The simple things that seem so mundane, like spring cleaning in the gardens, can often be the most cherished memory. Or, maybe, it’s the spring shopping for new outfits to wear to church or the hymns that are sung by the choir. What about you, what are your spring traditions?
Whatever the holiday, however you celebrate, I challenge you to capture your memories in at least one layout this spring. “I know there will be; as surely as the birds know it when they see above the snow two tiny, quivering green leaves. Spring cannot fail us.” Olive Schreiner ---------------- |
K u d o s & C a l l s ! If you visit The Shaker Box often, you will definitely recognize the following names when you see their creations published in upcoming magazines. Congrats to all of our members whose works have been accepted for publication or have won a contest recently. --------------------------------- Accepted for Publication Kudos go to the following Shaker Box members! --------------------------------- Magazine Calls/Contests The following magazines are having calls or contests! Make sure you check one out today! --------------------------------- Creating Keepsakes 3/21 Becky Higgins' Sketch Book - check out her new sketches --------------------------------- Paper Crafts Magazine
--------------------------------- Paper Kuts 5/1 Sweepstakes for HP printers or scrapbooking assistant --------------------------------- Paper Trends Items for our June/July 2005 issue. In particular, we are looking for (non-layout) items that fit the following categories: Baby, Back to School , Cards & Tags, Composition Books, Gifts, Projects, Vacation Mini Albums --------------------------------- Simple Scrapbooks --------------------------------- Scrapbooks Etc. (Better Homes and Gardens) Scrappin', Stampin', & Stationery! --------------------------------- 4/ 8 Summer, July 4th Celebrations, Back to School, any special events from July-September, Sports, Camping, Beach, Vacation and Theme Parks. Send in your ideas for cards, layouts, tags and other ideas to Creative Concepts. They should be scanned at 150dpi --------------------------------- Scrapbook Trends Please indicate the section you wish the layout to be considered for in your submission: Disney,Vacation Mini-Albums, Great Outdoors, Water Fun (beach, boating, etc.), The Story Behind the Photos, International Travel, Cruises & Tropical Trips, This Land is Our Land (National Parks, US landmarks, cities, etc.), Our Favorite Vacation, Amusement Parks, Vacation Memorabilia, Funny Vacation Moments, Humanitarian/Service Trips --------------------------------- Mara Mi - My Favorite Album Contest To submit, simply visit the site and fill in the entry form. Follow the requirements of using predominantly Mara Mi products and completing a minimum of 6 layouts. You must do an album based on one of the following themes: Celebrations, Journey, Relationships -------------------------- Feel free to submit your information if you have been published lately or will be in the future. We are compiling a list for next month's issue and would love for you to be a part of it! Please limit your inclusions to a two-month time period. (i.e. March ’s newsletter will include items published in March or April issues) Simply submit your publication list to AnneMarie at AnneMarie@theshakerbox.com.
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T i p s & T r i c k s ! |
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March's Fun Tip! I do this cheater from time to time. I will print out what I want to write on the computer--can do any font or size, then cut it out with an exacto knife and use as a stencil. If it is something I will use more than once, I'll trace it on a sheet of blank plastic then cut it out-presto-reusable stencil! Takes a bit of time but couldn't be cheaper! – posted by Julsmarshall Thanks Juls!! --------------------------------- Taking this one step further… Try laying the cut out letter on craft foam, then cut it out around the outside of the letter. Adhere the foam letter to a square piece of cardboard and - Tada – a reusable Foam Stamp, in any font you have available on your computer! What could be easier? --------------------------------- For her fun tip for March, Juls will be receiving a RAK from Artistic mMaginations for a few sets of Duro Stencils – not that she needs any with this great tip! Don't forget to visit our Frugal Scrapping are for more wonderful tips such as this one!!! ---------------- |
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D i g i t a l C a m e r a s !
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look when you change your vantagepoint. There are some fun reasons to do this but also some practical ones.
the frame. The next time you want to photograph something, take a number of different photos. Take some shots without zoom, some moderately zoomed and then take some filling the frame so that there is little or no background visible. In the first photo of my son, I have completely filled the frame. If I hadn't, the wooden arm of the rocking chair would have covered part of the print. The effect is a complete focus on him, especially his eyes, and not that he's resting on the arm of a chair.
as a little less zoomed but the background was plain. I was able to get a nice face-only shot without a distracting background. That's often not easy to achieve since babies are often being held or propped somewhere. Another thing to note is that I was crouched down and she was on a table. I deliberately took this photo from a below eye-level perspective in order to get a better view of her face. 
