My Favorite Apps

Posted on | September 3, 2010 | 1 Comment

I have some projects I’m working on but they’re still cookin’. Today I want to share some of my favorite apps with you, my favorite Android AND WordPress blog apps/plug-ins. Even though I now don’t get paid to play with web/media technologies I still like to keep up with them because I’m just a geek and also in hopes that one day I’ll get hired again to play with technology {::SMILES}. I’ll probably rattle off some others that I think are nice too, just cause I’m a geek, ha!

WordPress. Oh I so love thee. Granted there are a couple others I’d love to get my hands on they’re not free. So for now WP is it for me. Now, keep in mind that if you do not have the installed version of WP the WP portion of this post will be useless to you. But if you do have WP, the www.wordpress.org version, then you might find this handy. Now, while I’ll link the different plug-in to the developer’s site, you can install all the ones here from inside WP’s plug-in page. Just login to your Admin page, go to the Plug-In, click Add New, and type in the names of the plug-ins and install.

My most favorite WP app is WPTouch. It helps my blog look pretty on mobile browsers. If you have a mobile/cell phone with Internet go to my blog via it and you should see something like this

and when you click on a post, it’ll look like this

See how pretty it looks? You don’t have to zoom in/out or squint. If you keep scrolling you’ll see the comments and different ways to share the post. I only have the free version.

Next is the WP-DBManager. If you own your own blog it’s always a great idea to back it up every so often. This little tool is a handy dandy thing to have inside your WP blog!!
Askismet. This is a MUST have! I probably should list this as a number one because without it I’d probably have a lot of spam comments. But with this little thing I probably get a handful a year. They’re the “better” kinds where the comments would relate to the post. But, they’d be in my moderation folder anyways since I have my WP set to moderate for every new email addy. Once your addy has been approved your comments will automatically show up. No need for those captcha things (which I hate).
Category Page. If you look up to my menus you’ll see the Digi Tut menu button. If you click on it you’ll see a list of all my video tuts. I didn’t type all that in there. The plug-in does it automatically for me. I just have to insert a little code in there and each time I add a post with the category of “digital tutorial” it’ll add a link to the post on that Digi Tut page. Nice, huh? It’s a neat tool to organize!!!
Smart-YouTube. I use this for my YouTube videos. I like the look and it gives me the option to show the video in regular, high res, or high dev. This was the only thing available when high res came about and I’ve loved it since.

There are many other useful ones but I’ll leave you with five for now.

Android. I’ve only had this for almost two weeks but the geek in me is so embracing it. It’s sooooooooooooo nice to have the Internet on the go again!!! The £25/mo (100 minutes, 500 text, and 1GB bandwidth) is totally worth it even though I hardly get a phone call on it. In the US we used to have 450 shared minutes. Then AT&T decided to upgrade everything, including cost (nice, huh?), to I think 600 and by the time we left the US we had over 5,000 roll-0ver minutes. Savitri doesn’t talk on the phone. Actually Savitri doesn’t pick up the phone unless she’s expecting a call or it’s hubby. You all are just better off catching me via email or IM. I only use the phone to get my message across and that’s it. Here in the UK we use Skype for International calls and we have our home phone line which is free on weekends. Also, incoming calls are free here whether it’s your home or mobile phone (which I LOVE cause I shouldn’t have to pay if somebody needs me, right?). So 100 minutes is plenty! I do text but maybe 100 of them/mo. As much as I like reading my emails and such on the phone I don’t quite like typing on it. I am a slow texter!! Unless I have to or I’m totally bored (like waiting at M’s gymnastics) I’d reply on the phone. If not I’d wait until I get home. So, here are some of my favorite apps…

MyBookDroid. I JUST found this today and it’s AWESOME!! I love to read and I am an Agatha Christie book collector – just the Bantam series. When we’re out and about I’d see these books but then I wouldn’t know which one I have already. This little book database system will definitely be a huge help. I am so a member of GoodReads and this app syncs up to it. I love how I can just scan the bar codes of the books, just so slick. My only complain is the uploading to GoodReads. It doesn’t upload it according to categories. Just whether or you you’ve read, want to, etc. Oh well, guess I have to log in to GoodReads and update my stuff.
Kindle. I love that Amazon decided to release the software to read Kindle books on the computer/mobile. Now I don’t have to haul my laptop to the bathroom!! One day I’ll have a real Kindle — maybe soon {::SMILE}.
FXCamera. It’s a really fun camera app that can make the photo look like a Polaroid and others (the Polaroid is what I got it for though). I love it although I wish it zooms! It’s not as fun as iPhone’s Swankolab I think (reminds me of my darkroom days, ha!) but hey, we’re in the world of digital so we can skip the developing and just get to the end result, right?
imo.im. It pretty much covers all the chat app I use, including Skype. There’s not a lot of chat app where Skype really works and this one, so far, is still going. Too bad it doesn’t do voice!!
FeedSquares. It’s a pretty RSS reader that syncs up with my Google Reader. I really love it. It helps me keep up with what you all do. The only bad thing is that if you have a butt load of unread post it’ll freeze. One blog I had 28 unread posts and that didn’t make FeedSquares happy.

There are other apps and widgets that I love. Even though I don’t use my mobile to talk I use it for organizing my life. I use to have a PocketPC and this Droid replaces it. My Droid, I named it Sasha, syncs up to my calendar and emails and those are what’s important for me. It’s got a loud alarm clock too and a UK traffic app cause traffic here can be a killer. I do love the Navigation system. I think Google did a great job there and other things to make my life easy… like currency converter, clothing size converter, and games for M. I didn’t get a smartphone to look cool. I got this phone so that I can have access to all my crap that’s up there in the clouds — cloud computing. Sweetness…

My Must Haves

Posted on | August 21, 2010 | 3 Comments

Dawn at WPlus9 wanted us girls to share what our must have tools are for papercrafting to create our “signature” style. Well, the tools weren’t hard to figure out but the signature style… hmm… a bit harder. After browsing through my own stuff I see mostly clean. My clean can do different directions. It can be simple or a bit cluttery and at odd times vintage but I think most of them has a clean feel to them. My scrapbook is a bit more fluid I think but again, if I have to pick one, they’re still all clean designs. What do you think? Am I right about myself? When I read your comments about my designs I get this now and then: “You have an interesting style”. Which I wonder what the heck it is {:: SMILES}.

So my favorite must have tools are:

Scor-It. I LOVE this and it’s what I use to scor my cards. I have the Scor-Pal too but I think it’s only been used twice. It just doesn’t work so well for me, rips my paper if I push too hard where the It doesn’t care less if I’m gentle/rough on it.
Tonic guillotine. After going through a lot of trimmers this is my favorite. I have a few others but this one is the sharpest and straightest. It’s not perfect, sometimes I can’t see exactly where I’m trimming if I want to trim at .01mm — I know, right — but hey, it happens sometimes!
A great, or two, pair of scissors. I have a Stampin’ Up! and Martha Stewart one. I have two because I work on the table and floor. That way I don’t have to exercise my legs too much, ha!
Dimensionals. LOVE this thing and I have a gigantic roll of it although I buy all sorts of them when there’s a sale. The 1/16″ from Stampintons is my favorite. The 1/8″ is a bit too sticky when cutting. I have some SU ones too but I find them a tad too thin. I do use them for the most top layers although lately I’ve been using these vintage 3M ones that my father-in-law gave me. He gave me a ton of them!
Ribbons and latest favorite: baker’s twine! I buy them all {::SMILES}.
Of course I gotta have stamps and ink and clear blocks. I love rubber stamps but there’s nothing better than a great quality photo-polymer stamp like what WPlus9 carries. Not only can I see where I am stamping they are super easy to store too. Less space!! My ink of choice are still Stampin’ Up! My first SU ink I bought over 10 years ago and it’s still wet!!! I do LOVE Papertrey Ink’s fresh snow. Just way better than any other white/cream brand I’ve tried. Oh, Versamark for embossing!
Distressing tool. This thing is great for imperfect paper edges! Mine is old and the best $.99 I spent!!
Buttons!! I take all too!!
Last I’d like to say my sewing machine but uhmm… that thing hates me! I wish it doesn’t though because I’d love to use it on more stuff!!!!

I think that’s it! Do check to see what others have and I know for sure you want to see what Maile has for a tutorial using baker’s twine. CUTE!!

Materials:

Stamps: WPlus9 Mehndi Medallion and Guiding Light
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up!
Ribbon: Vintage Offrey
Button: Rhonna Farrer
Twine: Etsy

Etsy Thursday: Baker’s Twine

Posted on | August 19, 2010 | 11 Comments

Photo taken from Cupcake Social at Etsy

Urgh… I am on Etsy again… so not good for the pocket book!! But… found a few things and want to share!

Didn’t I tell you, back in May, that baker’s twine is in? If you haven’t gotten any you should! They’re fun and even if you don’t ever use them on your cards/scrapbook you can use them to wrap presents. That’s what I’ve been using lately for my gifts. I’ll just wrap the item(s) in old newspaper, tissue paper, or whatever inexpensive paper I can find around the house and tie it with baker’s twine and a tag/card.

After the May post I noticed a lot of places are selling baker’s twine. It was easier to find on Etsy too compared to my initial search. Even though my favorite place for baker’s twine is still Annie42 (you can’t beat $1 for 40 yards or $3.99 for 100 yards + $1.75 shipping), today I found a few more that I can see myself purchasing from since they have different colors.

Oh, before I get to baker’s twine, if you’re wanting to get the jute twine that I’ve been using a lot of (cause it was only $1.20/225 yards + $3.25 shipping) there is still more at Wind Rose Fiber Studio. Jute twine is more course but it makes such wonderful texture and accent to any project. I also use this for gift wrapping.

I am no twine expert but there are two types of twines. The least expensive ones, usually the red, blue, black, brown, green, are not made in America. The ones that are brighter (although the red looks pretty close), or as I like to call them: fun colors, are by Divine Twine/Timeless Twine and they are eco-friendly and made in the USA. So if you’re wondering why the same looking twine cost a lot more do check the brand and where it’s made in.

Ok, here goes…

Cupcake Social: This store has cute cute cute cupcake supply making stuff. Under their packaging section you’ll see the baker’s twines. There are different ones. The generic red/white or blue/white twines are $2.25/25 yards. But, this store has the fun and bright ones, like yellow, orange, and pink. The cost is a bit more, $2.25/5 yards + $1.50 shipping. Want the whole spool? Get 240 yards for $15. But really? Unless you’re going to be wrapping a butt load of shtuff with this you’d be better off getting 100 yards of a variety pack. Less expensive and by the time you’re done with your variety pack there’ll be some other new trend, ha! Now, if you want to buy more than one item, this place is the place to be because any item after, shipping is only $.10!!
The Twinery: Has the Divine Twine for $14.95 + $3 shipping. You get eight bright colored twines at 15 yards each, 120 yards total. If you want a whole spool of Divine Twine, you can get 240 yards of it here for $14. A few bucks cheaper than the other stores if you add shipping.
California Craft: By now you’ve probably noticed that the Divine Twine are slightly thicker. In this store you can get 10 yards for $1.99 + $1.99 shipping (and $.25 with another item). A good price if you just want to try a bit of it.
Bella Creations: Buy the spool of Timeless Twine for $10 (160 yards) or for 100 yards (20 yards/color) you can get fun pink, yellow, blue, green and purple for $8.99 and $2.50 shipping. You can get 50 yards too for $5.50. So far this is the sweetest deal on the fun colors!! Ok, if you do the math the Divine Twine at $14+$3 shipping is a tad bit cheaper per yard than the Timeless Twine ($.708 vs $.075). But not much different, it just now depends on the color(s) you like.
The Gilded Bees: Need cream twine? This place has it, 30 yards for $2.99 + $2.25 shipping.

That’s it for now. Remember, the stores above sell other things besides twine. Do check them out!! They’re great and some are for paper crafters!!

Signing Time

Posted on | August 16, 2010 | 10 Comments

When I learn something or if I find something useful I feel the need to share and/or show somebody how to do it. When I am interested in something I research it to death. Hubby said it’s to the point of being overly overwhelming but he lets me be as long as he doesn’t have to hear every single detail or read a 100 page summary.

After I was pregnant with M I got a whiff of baby signing. I researched and researched, learn a few signs along the way, and concluded that it’s one of the best thing after diapers. Right now we’re focusing on signing with Jovie. Like most babies her age Jovie can’t speak (M was an exception, she babbled well and woke up talking one day at about 14.5-months). Jovie makes noises which some I can understand but for the most part she sounds like a little cave girl. The good news is that Jovie’s been really good about learning how to sign the last few days. Even though she got milk and change down the end of January it just recently clicked that all the different hand movements we’ve been doing mean something.

So here’s the educator in me sharing with you: If you’re expecting or have a little one I highly recommend teaching your baby how to sign. Research and personal experience have shown that signing does not slow speech development. M talked at 14-mo but she still signed until she was 18-mo because a few of her words I had a hard time understanding. M actually still signed a few words, “please” included, until she was three. She was a thumb sucker and she’d have her thumb in her mouth and politely ask for things with her other hand (cute at first but hubby and I decided that the thumb needed to be out of the mouth when asking for something). Jovie is much much happier now that she knows a few more words. When she wakes up she’ll ask for milk, then a change of diaper and then cereal. A few weeks ago she insisted on ice cream for breakfast. She’ll ask to go outside or to play. It’s wonderful!!

You don’t have to know American Sign Language. I didn’t. I just watched the videos, Signing Time or My Baby Can Talk, (this site has a wonderful video dictionary of different words) with M and we learned together. Plus it’s not like I was going to sign in full sentences. It was a word or two here and another one there. I did take a signing class just for fun last summer. It taught me a lot about ASL and and Signing Exact English (SEE) but that didn’t teach me a lot of new things in terms of baby signing. Do do do try this! So far Jovie knows: Milk, change, more, eat, cereal, outside, play, hot, cold (with “brrr” as the sound effect), sleep/night-night, ice cream, and potty. It’s a third less than what M knew but they’re better than nothing.

Here’s little Jovie showing off her teeth, cheesy smile and a few :

Page details:

Although the page might look complicated it actually wasn’t. It’s just the paper that’s busy. Then I added a bit here and there, mostly scraps, and came up with this piece. The left photo is of her saying “all-done“. The right is “more“. Both were not done correctly but that’s how Jovie signs.

This little corner was just layered with random bits of leftovers. They used to be a part of a Studio Calico kit (except for the flower and the doile) -- mostly Making Memories travel kit stuff. A little piece here a little there and voila.

I also want to show you this part. Just stickers here with the edges a bit curled or unglued. It wasn’t my idea. I guess cause the stickers are 2-3 years old the adhesive were non-existent. After I adhered the stickers started peeling off. I liked the peeled look and so I added more glue but just to half the side. This just gives the page a bit more 3D look.

That’s it! Oh, isn’t Jovie getting so big?!?! She’s looking more and more like her daddy… the prettier version.

My Favorite Kit Clubs

Posted on | August 9, 2010 | 7 Comments

From left to right:
Scarlet Lime | Studio Calico | Midnight Roosters | A Million Memories
Created using Mosaic Maker

Now that new release stuff’s over I can post other random stuff {::SMILE}. Today I want to share some of my FAVORITE scrapbook kit clubs… whether I am a subscriber or not. Although crafts in general makes me happy there’s something about a fabulously put together kit that makes me extra giddy (it also increases my hoarding tendencies). It’s like cooking. One knife gets you really excited about cooking but a great set makes you just want to chop all day. Or, a great lens would make any photographer jump for joy but a set of them would give that person a heart attack — it’ll be too overwhelming I think, ha!

Before I get to sharing some of you might wonder which kit is best for you. My answer is, it all depends on your style and my suggestion is to try first before committing (some kit clubs have a 3-6 months commitment). A few years ago I bought a kit. LOVELY kit but then I found that it was a tad too hip for me. As much as I want to be hip and do stuff like the DTs it was just not me. Even though I did pay a bit more, one time purchase v.s. subscription price, it was well worth it because I saved in the long run. Also scroll through the previous kits and give the Design Team gallery a good look. If you like what you see, kits and what others have done with them, chances are you’ll be a happy customer too.

So here are my FAVORITE kits:

Scarlet Lime: If you like colors this is the kit for you. I’ve been with Scarlet Lime for 2+ years now and I am still addicted. Even when I was tightening our budget I kept my membership — and I could have cancelled anytime. I know, bad, huh? I don’t know how Christy does it but she packs in so much stuff in each monthly kit! The last few months they’ve also came up with a new smaller kit called the Frugal Fab and it’s FAB for only $19.95!! I think of all the clubs that I’ll be mentioning, SL is the least social. There’s a newsletter but there are no challenges, Facebook, Twitter, etc. like most other clubs. I wouldn’t mind challenges every month from SL!
Studio Calico: Classy is what I think of them. I subscribed to them before Scarlet Lime. I did a 6-months deal and quit because my favorite scrapbooker, Christine Middlecamp, quit the DT position. I joined because she was the DT. Now another favorite scrapbooker is their DT, Sasha Farina (she currently is making me want some ink splatters!!), and oh it’s so tempting to join again!!
Midnight Rooster: They’re new and style wise they’re on the calm side with a splash of delightful colors. I’ve never purchased from them but it’s calling me big time. This club also has an exclusive rubber stamp in each monthly kit and from what I’ve seen, they’ve been wonderful.
A Million Memories: This place has some lovely kits and each time I look at their DT’s work I keep wanting to get me at least one kit but I haven’t. Beautiful beautiful stuff and I think this club’s kits would be perfect for the more whimsical and fun kind of scrapbooker.
Little Red Scrapbook: Very affordable and fun kits! I don’t know why I haven’t gotten anything from here yet but for $22.50/mo + shipping you can sit back, relax, and wait for a kit to show up each and every month.
My Creative Scrapbook: Although the DT examples didn’t scream it I do see a lot of vintage possibilities with this club’s kits. Who knows, maybe it’s just me but the good size kit seems to have a lot of flowers, ribbons/lace and very soft neutral tones. They also have a main kit, mini, album and a special edition. The kits are sold out quite a bit so I haven’t gotten a chance to grab one. Maybe if I sign up for their newsletter I can be one of the first on release day. Hmm….
Paper Posies: Very fun kits. I think the only one I really don’t care for is July’s kit. Just too blue for me. Besides that, lots of goodies. I do wish the photos of the kits are bigger though, esp. the past kits. I’d like to inspect the content better. They’ve got some 2008 kits for sale, $15. Deal I think.
Noel Mignon: Noel’s kits has a fluid style. One month it can be vintage, another retro, and another blasting with colors. Very fun!?Prices varies too, the price is a bit more but you get a tons of stuff. It’s basically you get what you paid for in this club.

Then there are others that I’m not sure about, for myself that is, but worth mentioning:

Freehand Scrap: Coordinates well but the kit seems small.
Cocoa Daisy: For me personally the kits are hit and miss. I love some and not care of the others much.
Scrapbook Nook: It seems nice but I can’t really tell from the photos

There are others that I’ve liked too but are now closed. Some do come and go but I think the ones I’ve listed as my favorite have been around for a while.

How about card clubs? I am a scrapbooker and card maker so when I buy kits I go for the scrapbook ones — 12×12 paper vs 8×8 or 6×6. If you’re just into card making then there are a few nice ones out there. Personally I haven’t really looked.

In general though being a subscriber to SL has saved me tons of money and time. Granted I still LOVE to shop for scrapbook stuff I’ve found that $40 later I felt like what I’ve purchase were useless just because they’re a hodge podge of none coordinating pieces. Yes I’ll use them eventually but I’ll have to work harder on mixing and matching where if I get a kit everything’s been coordinated for me and all I have to do is scrap. Also, since the clubs get the materials at a discount the kits are usually worth more than the price tag. I paid $31.50 for my Scarlet Lime kit but I think if I price everything they’d be over $40… probably more $50. If the Frugal Fab at $20 is worth $40 then the main kit should be a bit more, right?

Anyhow, thought I’d share that bit of info with you. Have a great one and I’ll post a project later on. Have a good one!!!