I Know, I Know....

I didn't announce the new team today! My internet was down all day and I haven't been able to contact all the new team members!

I will announce the new team on Thursday... sorry everyone!

Kodak EasyShare Software

Reported by Carolyn King


I didn't even realize what I was buying when I purchased my Kodak EasyShare Camera/Software. I just wanted a simple digital camera---one that would not take me days to learn how to use and one that included software so that I could manipulate my (poor) photographs and make them look a bit better!


After doing minimal research, I purchased my first Kodak EasyShare camera and I am now on my third one (FYI--I am on my third one because of my own mistakes----I left one outside in the rain and I dropped one at CHA!) Currently, I have the Kodak EasyShareC633. I like the camera because it is lightweight and easy to use but for this review--I am going to focus on the software.


The Kodak EasyShare software is designed so that you can upload your photos and create an easy tagging system that enables you to organize your pictures by date or event. This makes finding your photos very easy. What I am most impressed about is the super-simple editing features it has. You do not have to be very technologically advanced to understand the software and get great results. Love that!

I use this camera/software for all of my cardmaking uploads. After uploading my pictures I can click on the Edit button and the software will enable me to perform the following functions:

Crop (Using the arrow you adjust the picture box to create the borders of the photo); Rotate; Red Eye reduction; Enhance (instantly enhances the photo for you); Scene balance (You adjust the exposure, shadow and highlights to get the look you want); Color Balance; Scene Effects (Black & White, Sepia, Forest, Scenic, Portrait, Sunset); Fun Effects (Spotlight, Coloring Book, Cartoon, Fisheye).

Here are a few of the fun effects. I used my daughter's picture from Halloween last year. Note: this picture was taken outside so there is plenty of light. On pictures I take inside (ie. cards), I often have to lighten up the pictures manually to get the results I want. You can do that with this software.


Here is the same photo, but I cropped it:

Here is the same photo, but I used the Scene Balance function and adjusted the exposure, shadows and highlights. I use the Scene Balance functions often on my photos of cards/projects.

Here is one of the fun effects--Cartoon! I had to include this because it is just fun. You can print these out so your children can color themselves. (Or, you can start a family feud by giving each child their sibling's photo to color!)

Here is the same photo with the Black and White enhancement:

PROS:

• I like the Kodak EasyShare Camera and Software because it is affordable and very easy to use and install.
• I can upload and edit photos very quickly.
• The Software is user friendly and does include a lot of fun editing features.

CONS:

• The Software is basic so there are a lot of functions it cannot do.
• You cannot apply a watermark on your photos using this software so I actually have to use another program to do that if I want to put my name on my photos.

You can find the Kodak EasyShare Camera/Software at stores like Walmart, Best Buy and most stores that have a camera section. The camera and software retails for about $100 but you can spend a lot more if you want more zoom or features on your camera. I always go with the basic model because I tend to break things and I don't have to feel as bad if I am spending less money.

In conclusion, if you do not want to spend a lot of money for your camera and software, this is a great camera for you. Additionally, the software is so user friendly that you don't have to have much computer knowledge to use it.

If you have the Kodak EasyShare Camera and Software, I would love to hear your opinion.

And now, I have to say goodbye. This is my last article with Craft Critique as my term is up this month. Thanks so much for warmly welcoming me. It was such a fun experience. Hopefully I am invited to write some guest articles in the future.

Wool and Synthetic Felt

Reported By: Susie Ziegler

One of my favorite materials to use in hand stitching and crafting is felt. Felt is readily available at craft retailers but there are several types. I went out and purchased a selection to compare for you, crafty readers.

The first and most beloved type is 100% wool. This felt is reported to have an almost mystical perfection but is really expensive and is only available online or at specialty outlets. I'm sorry to say that I did not purchase or test this felt. I can only go by the word on the street that says it is fantastic.

Another type of felt that you can actually find at stores is also commonly called "wool felt" but is really a wool/rayon blend. American fabric retailer JoAnns has a selection of this felt manufactured by National Nonwovens at about $10/square yard. I'll disclose right away that this is my favorite felt and I have a good sized stash of it in every color. JoAnns only carries a small selection, unfortunately, so I usually need to go online to get certain colorways.


Most commonly available in craft stores is synthetic felt made from acrylic or polyester. JoAnns and WalMart both carry a nice synthetic by Kunin Group made from 100% recycled bottles. Priced at under $4/yard for a large 72-inch width, this felt is an excellent value. Squares of this Ecospun polyester felt are stacked in the craft area and are about 20 or 25 cents each.
Finally, at Michaels and Hobby Lobby, I found 20 to 25 cent acrylic felt squares of unknown manufacturer. Hobby Lobby's acrylic felt was the softest and fuzziest. Michaels' was also soft, but thinner and more dense.
Wool/Rayon felt has the most "natural" feel for obvious reasons. Acrylic is slightly scratchy. Actually all felt is slightly scratchy and if you are allergic to wool, I suppose you would be scratchiest of all using felt of that fiber. I noticed that the acrylic felt has a slightly glossy sheen to it. Many people prefer it for this very reason. In this photo, my wool felt is the darker dull cut leaf on the far left.

Sometimes I use hole punches on felt to get uniform pieces more quickly. Whenever I've tried hole punching acrylic felt, the results are disastrous. Wool felt punches easily, although there are usually a few fuzzies to trim off with scissors. You can die cut all types of felt with heavy duty die cutting machines like a Sizzix. Thin dies designed for paper like the Cuttlebug will not work at all. Don't even try it. Just trust me...


One of my biggest problems with synthetic felt is that it is too translucent. I want my applique projects to stay true to their color and not have the backs of my threads and patterned fabrics showing through. Look how easy it is to see the paper behind this felt square from Hobby Lobby.

I was surprised to find that the synthetic felt squares I saw at Michaels were reassuringly opaque just like my wool/rayon blended felt. Different colors of synthetic felt will have varying levels of translucency.

I washed small felt squares and the felt all held up well in my regular laundry wash and dry cycles. Only the wool felt shrunk considerably and had marked change in its texture. The synthetic felts all came through the wash virtually the same as they went in although just a little bit fuzzier.

All felt will pill and fuzz over time depending on how you use it. Note on this purse applique that the blue synthetic felt has pilled the most. The other colors are natural fibers.

I use felt in little handstitched appliques and small felt mascot projects. Ease of cutting and stitching are important to me. I find that synthetic felt drags against my needle when I am stitching and resists my scissors when I cut. Friends of mine who hand stitch felt find that this does not bother them and they like the synthetic felt because of it's availability.

Wool Blend Felt
Pros:

• Cuts well
• Opaque and dense
• Natural feel
• Does not pill as much over time
• Considered "premium"

Cons:

• Shrinks when laundered
• Expensive
• Hard to find

Synthetic Felt
Pros:

• Ecospun is eco-friendly because it is made from 100% post consumer plastic
• Soft and fuzzy (this may be a disadvantage depending on your personal preference)
• Holds shape in laundry
• Widely available and inexpensive

Cons:

• Resists cutting and hole punching
• Translucent
• Pills and fuzzes over time

Synthetic felt is available all over the place. They might even have a stack of it at your local drug store. You can find 100% wool felt and wool/rayon blend felt online at A Child's Dream Come True, Prairie Joint Junction, and Erica's, as well as many other sources.

After doing these tests, I still prefer stitching with my wool blend felt. I'll save the synthetic for Brownie troop projects and things I expect to launder. Of course I love anything of any type of fiber that my crafty friends have made for me!

What about you other users of felt? Are you lovers of synthetic or do you prefer natural wool?

Clover Soft Touch Crochet Hooks

Reported by Dana Vitek

I hadn't been crocheting long when I realized how much it hurt my hands. My fingers ached, and sometimes the tip of my thumb went numb. Despite my mother's insistence that it was because I was holding the hook, and the yarn, wrong (and in the wrong hand), I knew it was because traditional crochet hooks are not ergonomically correct. Especially when crocheting tight fabrics in single crochet, like in amigurumi, there is a lot of pressure exerted over just a tiny area of the hook's handle.

Enter the Clover Soft Touch crochet hook. Isn't she a beauty? With a nice wide handle to spread out my grip, I don't feel that I'm squeezing it too tightly, like I did with the traditional model. And when I'm spending a lot of time crocheting (like I did while watching the Olympics), I can definitely tell the difference in the way my fingers feel the morning after.

Now, a long-time crocheter (like my mom, who is resistant to change under the best of circumstances), may not feel the need to fix what isn't broken. She claims that the bone in her finger has a groove in it right where the hook goes, thank you very much, and doesn't need any newfangled crochet hooks to make afghan after afghan (after afghan). But since I'm new enough to not be crotchety about my crochet, and I tend to make things with a tighter stitch, I'm happy to let the Soft Touch keep my finger bones groove-free.

If you hold your hook like a pencil, and not like a dinner knife, I can see where this hook may not make a huge difference in your grip, because you're used to having three free fingers anyway. But I'm a dinner-knife-grip kind of gal, and I can't say enough good things about it. Don't get me wrong, I've found some things I don't like too. In fact, let's get to that part of the article already:

Pros:

• Wide handle to spread out pressure from fingers
• Hook head is more like the Boye than the Susan Bates (crocheters know what I'm talking about, and if you're not a crocheter, I bet you're pretty bored right now), and I like it better.
• The finish on the metal is kind of, frosted maybe? Sanded? Not shiny smooth like other hooks, and I think the yarn slips easier, which I like. My mother hates it, as I'm sure you would have guessed.

Cons:

• All of the hook sizes are the same golden yellow color. That's annoying, because I can't tell them apart without reading them, and I'm lazy. They make the soft touch handles in different colors for their plastic light-up hooks, so I don't know why they didn't carry them over to the metal ones.
• I was going to say that they don't make them in those teeny tiny steel hook sizes where they'd be REALLY useful, but they do, so never mind.
• Oh my word, they're spendy. They cost $4.50 MORE a piece than the Boye hooks. Ouch.

I suppose you'd like to see a project that I made with the Clover Soft Touch crochet hook. I'm sure the future owner of this blanket would like to see it too, before he heads off to college... if I could just get it finished! (he's only a month old, I have some time...)

One super soft green blankey for baby James:

Yarn: Sensations Angel Hair Light Green (exclusively at JoAnn's)
Stitch pattern: linked triple crochet


Clover Soft Touch hooks are available online at JoAnn.com, Amazon.com, and directly from Clover. They retail for $6.50 each, but I think they're worth it. I see now you can get them as a gift set with a handy storage pouch, or just the pouch by itself, which looks like a good stocking stuffer for me, just as soon as I finish crocheting the stockings. Ahem.

So have you made the switch to the Clover Soft Touch hooks, or are you keeping it real with the old-school Boye and Susan Bates? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Memory Box Decorative Cardstock

Reported by Tracy Schultz

If you love nature and love to papercraft, then Memory Box decorative cardstock needs to be in your crafting stash. Even if you aren't a nature person, you can't help but fall in love with these whimsical and fresh paper packs.

I fell in love with Memory Box paper almost immediately after it hit the craft scene. The nature-inspired designs were clean and fresh and well-suited to so many applications. As a cardmaker, I loved that the designs worked easily with many of the stamp sets I already owned.

What I love most is their size- just six inches square. Perfect for cardmakers, but still usable by scrappers. I find 12" by 12" papers have designs that just don't render well when used on a card. Too much of the design and detail is lost when you cut them down. But these smaller papers are perfect for cards and altered projects.

Stamps: Sweet Bird by Memory Box; Manuscript background by Hero Arts; Simple Alphabet by Papertrey Ink

Decorative Paper: Inspire by Memory Box
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Hazel
Accessories: pink satin ribbon, prima flowers, clear dew drop

These cardstock packs are a nice weight, too. They're not flimsy like most decorative paper you buy at your local craft store. They're labeled as decorative cardstock packs, not paper. And you'll notice the difference the first time you hold them. The extra thickness means they'll take to distressing really well. You can use an edge distresser or a file to rough up the edges of the paper without ruining the rest.

Pros:

• Nature-inspired whimsical designs
• Cardmaker's 6" by 6" scale
• Reasonable price
• Large variety of designs available
• Heavier weight paper holds up well to distressing and other techniques

Cons:

• Limited availability online
• Even hard to find in local craft stores

Stamps: Itty Bitty Dragonfly by Lockhart Stamp Company
Decorative Paper: Grove by Memory Box
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Hazel
Accessories: Black organza ribbon, Copic Spica clear glitter pen, Versamarker pen, paper piercer, corner rounder punch

The only bad thing I have to say about Memory Box paper is that it's still not readily available in all stores. I have yet to find it locally [But my local craft stores leave a lot to be desired!]. And online it's still available in only a dozen or so reliable stores.

I'd rate these decorative cardstock packs a perfect 10 for their wonderful designs, size, weight, and reasonable price. They retail for $5 per pack of 30 sheets, and you usually get 10 different patterns (3 pages each) in one pack. That's only sixteen cents per page!

You can find Memory Box decorative cardstock packs at Ellen Hutson, Impress, and Stamper's Dream.

So, tell us, do you love Memory Box's paper line? What projects have you used them in?

Get Rollin' Memory Essentials

reported by Lexi Daly

Clearsnap recently introduced a new line of wheel tools in their Memory Essentials line. The Get Rollin' wheels are adhesive covered clear wheels, designed to use with anything you can stick to the adhesive and roll through ink, creating a wheel stamp of your own design.

Although you can stick anything on the adhesive--lace, rubber bands, or anything that will leave an impression--the main reason this new type of wheel caught my eye is that they are also billed as a great tool to use with clear stamps, which I have a lot of. Just stick them all over the wheel and get rollin'!

The wheel comes in two sizes, standard and jumbo and includes five layers of adhesive on the wheel. Refills are also available. The standard wheel is listed at $6.50, the jumbo for $8.00 and the refills for $4.00 and $5.00 respectively. You can buy inking handles and cartridges for use with wheels as well. For this article, I started off with the basic handles, using my own ink pads. But I also discovered that I could use the inking handles and cartridges I already have from Stampin' Up! Here is an overview of my supplies and the wheeled elements I made.

As with any new tool, my first play was just to try different images on scratch paper. Since my main interest in this new tool was a new way to use my clear stamps, that is what I chose to focus on. I thought letters and numbers could make great backgrounds, so that's what I tried first. I used the numbers on the standard wheel, lined up straight and in order (pictured on the wheel at the top right), and I used the letters placed randomly on the jumbo wheel (sample in center). I also wanted to see how a longer image would fit, like the fence above. It actually wasn't long enough to go all the way around, but having it mounted on the wheel did allow for more fluid curving, as though I were stamping the fence on a hill. For most of these samples, I simply inked up my wheel on an ink pad and rolled away. Then I had the idea to make a sheet of wrapping paper with the numbers and tried my Stampin' Up! inking handle and cartridge as I mentioned above--easy peasy and yet another use for something I already had!

After stamping and cleaning the fence, I noticed that the exposed portion of my sticky strip was not so sticky, so I decided to peel off a layer. It works basically like a sticky lint roller--peel off the top layer to expose another--but I did have trouble finding the end. It didn't tear automatically, so I had to be careful not to take off too much and then cut off where I thought it should be with scissors. It's not that big of a deal, but definitely something to be aware of.

Of course, I couldn't just stop with simple scratch paper stamping, so I used each element on a project...

baby mouse {the saltbox studio}, clear flower alpha, note card & ribbon {a muse}

all stamps {the saltbox studio}, note card & star twinkle stickers {a muse}

balloon mouse {the saltbox studio}, clear numbers, note card & ribbon {a muse}

So, to sum it all up...

Pros:

• easy to use
• a new twist on wheel stamping
• works with things you might already have

Cons:

• the sticky strip didn't seem to be perforated for easy peeling

The new Get Rollin' Adhesive Wheels can be found at various stamping and scrapping stores and online directly from Clearsnap. Do you have one already? We'd love to hear what you think and see what you've created with it!

Metallic Bright Markers

Reported by Heather Strenzwilk

During the flurry of back-to-school shopping, I discovered Metallic Bright Markers by RoseArt. The product packaging states: "designed to write on dark or light paper, glass, mirrors and dark or light fabric. The set of 8 bullet tipped markers are ideal for coloring or for drawing thick or thin lines." The product also claims to wash easily from skin.

The markers write very smoothly and worked equally well on dark and light cardstock. The pens draw very evenly and there were no issues with poling or blobbing. The ink dried within a few minutes however the ink smudged slightly with repeated handling, even after a few days. This probably wouldn't be an issue on a card but a frequently handled object such as a school notebook should be sealed for additional durability.


The markers have a bullet tip and like most markers, varying pressure will make various width lines. I tend to be heavier handed so my lines tend to be thicker. I didn't have great success using these for small or detailed design work, but but someone with a lighter hand might not have problems. I do hope they come out with a fine tip version though.


I decided to follow the recommendation from the Lucky Squirrel PolyShrink website and try Metallic Brights to create black shrink plastic charms. The results were amazing! I used an Intaglio Technique on the shrink plastic and let it cool. Then I lightly colored the raised parts on the image with the markers. I used a napkin to dab any excess ink, adding more color where it was needed and around the edge of the piece. Surprisingly, the ink did not smear much on the pieces but for extra durability I sprayed the pieces with Krylon spray to help seal the ink. The gold, silver and copper markers were the hands down favorites. I do think though there is potential to create faux turquoise with lime and blue.


For my next test, I used the markers to decorate an old pair of navy blue (95% cotton/ 5% Spandex) pants and on a piece of white nylon ribbon. The marker was easier to apply to the smoother ribbon. However I thought the marker appeared streaked and colors bled from section to section. The ink did give body to the ribbon which might be helpful for a project. The dark pants accepted the color well but the lighter (silver and gold) were the easiest to see. The darker shades (purple, green) held much less contrast and seemed to have lost much of their metallic sheen as they dried.

The package did not contain care instructions. I later washed the pants (inside out, normal cycle, Tide detergent) and the design did not fade or smear. I am not sure how the designs would hold up after multiple washings, but if they did fade you could color them in again. The markers had promise and I want to try them on an old pair of blue jeans or a denim jacket.


Pros:

• The ink does not stain your hands- it removes easily with a normal hand soap.
• Once dry, the ink is permanent on shrink plastic and fabric.
• Non-toxic and safe for children (ages 3 and up) and no smelly fumes
• Reasonably priced- under $5 and available and many major retailers.
• Silver, gold and copper shades are especially good on black shrink plastic.

Cons:

• Bullet-tip is not the best tip for writing or fine detail work.
• Flawed color selection- unusual shade of pink, blue has a very strong silver tone, and green has a bluish cast. The set could use a dark metallic green and a deep metallic red or maroon.
• Ink is not permanent on paper and can smear if handled excessively.
• Marker caps are very difficult to remove from the marker.

I really liked Metallic Bright Markers by RoseArt. They are available at Target, Walmart, Walgreen's, Staples and many national retailers for under $5. The markers performed well and were fun. As an added bonus the markers wash off skin with soap and water (no stained hands for me!) I was particularly impressed by how well they worked on black shrink plastic and for that alone they are well with the modest under $5 price tag. I rate these markers 8/10.

Do you like metallic markers? Have you tried this brand or any other brand? Share your experience with our readers!

Avalon Fix is Awesome

Reported By Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

I first became acquainted with Avalon Fix about a year ago when I took a class with Jan Beaney. Jan is a fiber artist from the U.K. and you should check out her wonderfully textural embroidery if you get a chance.

Avalon Fix is a water-soluble stabilizer. In case you don’t know what stabilizers are, here’s a great article from Threads Magazine. Essentially, a water-soluble stabilizer allows you to stitch into it like fabric and then it disappears or melts away in water. It’s an easy way to make your own lace or free standing embroidered embellishments.

Avalon Fix has two unique characteristics that I love:

1. You don’t need a hoop.
Most of the water-soluble stabilizers I’ve worked with resemble a thin plastic film. In order to work with them, you need to stretch them in a hoop. Avalon Fix is more like a woven fabric. You don’t need to use a hoop. This opens up many issues of size and shape. And, there’s less waste. (Always an important consideration for the budget minded.) Further, it’s still thin enough to see through, so you can place a pattern underneath your Avalon Fix.

2. It’s adhesive backed.

A popular lace technique is to sandwich loose fibers between two layers of water-soluble stabilizers and stitch a grid. When you melt away the stabilizer, you are left with a wonderful lacy fabric. The downside is that you can’t really control where the fibers end up all that accurately. Because Avalon Fix is sticky, you can accurately place whatever material you want onto the stabilizer. Love that!

I like to use Avalon Fix to make these bracelets:


Here’s a step-by-step demonstration of how I use Avalon Fix:


1. Adhere it to your work surface (I’m working on a piece of glass) over your pattern, with the sticky side up.
2. Begin placing your fiber where you want it.
3. Continue to fill your shape – you can see that I used felt to create some circles.
4. Place another water-soluble stabilizer (I used Sulky Solvy) over your creation so that your needle doesn’t get caught. It will stick to the adhesive of the Avalon Fix.
5. Machine stitch to secure all the disparate items together.
6. Place the stitched item into a bowl of water – warm or cold it doesn’t matter.

The stabilizer will melt away and you will be left with your finished shape. You can now embellish and use it as you wish. You can see that I used it as the centerpiece of my necklace. I also made a matching pair of earrings.


I couldn’t find either prices or product info on the manufacturer’s website, however a web search revealed that you can purchase Avalon Fix for as low as $15 a roll. I buy mine at my local quilt shop for $20.

I haven't found another water-soluble stabilizer that performs in quite the way that Avalon Fix does. I highly recommend it.

Renegade Craft Fair Chicago

Reported By:Martha Bonneau


Last weekend was the 6th annual Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago and as advertised, it does go on rain or shine as last Saturday & Sunday the Chicagoland area received upwards of 10" of rainfall. I wish I had lots and lots of pictures to share with you, but it isn't easy to juggle a camera and an umbrella. I can tell you that when Sarah and I arrived, we were pleasntly surprised to see that most of the vendors had already or were in the process of setting up their booths. As we began to walk around and talk to vendors we found out that several had to leave due to the weather and booths that could not withstand 2 days of solid rain...very sad. In lieu of pics, I am going to share links to the Etsy shops and websites of some of our faves. I also invite you to check out the Renegade Chicago site for a complete list of vendors and links to pics.


SwallowKisses...fun tattoo inspired designs on clothing and jewelry

Sublime Stitching of course

Ready Made...yay for $5 subscriptions!

Linty Fresh...cool shirts, great name.

coo-koo-ri-coo...great jewelry made from vintage bits.

Berkley Illustration...wonderfully charming illustrations of animals in suits.

Urban Rtro Styling...graffiti art on skateboards, lunchboxes and such.

Nice...the dreamiest lanterns made of doilies and other pretties.



This is just a short list of some of my faves, I invite all of our readers to check out all of the vendor links and show your support for indie crafts!

HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer

Reported by Sara McKenzie

I have owned and used the HP Photosmart C7180 printer for about 18 months. I LOVE this printer- and I'm going to tell you why!

Of course HP, like most technology manufacturers, never sells the same model for a prolonged period of time, so the printer details that I am going to share are for the Photosmart C6380, which is currently available, and has mostly the same features as the printer that I own and use. The C6380 sells on the HP website for $199.99.

Here are some specs for the C6380:

• Dimensions: 17.79 x 15.97 x 8.17 in(w x d x h)
• Weight: 16.4 lb
• Print speed: 33 pages per minute black and up to 31 ppm color
• Copy: Up to 50 copies, reduce/enlarge: 50 to 400%
• Paper handling: 125-sheet input tray, 20-sheet photo tray,
  50-sheet output tray
• Connectivity: 2 USB (front and back), 1 Ethernet, 1 PictBridge, 1 Wireless 802.11g/b
• Print Technology: HP Thermal inkjet
• Scan size: Maximum 8-1/2" X 11-3/4"
• Uses the HP 564 Black Ink Cartridge(~250 pages), HP 564 Photo Black Ink Cartridge (~ 130 photos) and the HP 564 Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow Ink Print Cartridges (~300 pages).

And here are some the GREAT features:

• Print a 4" X 6" photo in as little as 18 seconds from the separate photo paper tray. No need to waste an entire sheet of photo paper for one small print.
• Borderless printing capability, up to 8-1/2" X 11".
• Flatbed scanner allows you to scan bulky embellishments on your cards and scrapbook pages.
• You can connect wirelessly with your computer to print documents or pictures.
• Your camera memory card can go directly into the printer, by-passing the computer altogether if you prefer.
• Comes with the HP Photosmart Premier software that allows for quick import, simple editing (rotation in small increments, cropping, red-eye, brightness adjustment, and resizing).
• Compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OSX v10.4 and 105. operating systems.

So, what do I love about this printer?

• It is compact, and doesn't take up a lot of desktop space.
• It is truly plug and play. You can load up the printer driver on your computer and be printing photos within 20 minutes.
• I love the wireless capability. I also have a laserjet, that is hard-wired to my computer. It was nice to be able to find a printer that I could place across the room, and not have to worry about a cord lying across the floor. There is a comparable model that is not wireless, if you prefer.
• The print quality is superb. Photos come out great, with wonderful color. I also "worked" it last year when I had to print 100 photos for some photo Christmas cards that I was making. It took some time, but every page came out great and usable.
• I actually bought this because of the flatbed scanner (in addition to the HP brand name). Most of the cards that you see on my blog were scanned with this equipment. The resolution is great, the color is true. And the software that came with it makes it incredibly easy to give a little adjustment to the scan before saving it- such as when I don't line the card up straight on the bed, and it has to be rotated a few degrees.
• The software itself really is intuitive. It only takes a few minutes to figure out where to click and what it can do for you.
• Ink cartridges are really easy to replace and have been very reliable. (I have only used HP replacements, so I can only speak to those.)
• The computer tells you when the ink cartridges are getting low. You can print to the very end of the supply, and then replace with a fresh cartridge.

Complaints?

Only one- and it has actually gone away. I work on the Windows XP platform, and early on, I had some problems when I tried to scan, getting a message that another computer was "using" the scanner. Huh?!? It was clearly some kind of glitch between the operating system and the HP software, and it was easily fixed (with HP online chat guidance) by clearing an HP process in the Windows "Task Manager" window.

This problem happened a couple of times, and then never happened again. Go figure....

Cons?

Well, as with all inkjet printers, they get you with the replacement cartridges. They are $9.99 for the C6380 HP 564 cartridges. You can get a larger print cartridge for $14.99, for twice as many pages. I could not tell you how many pages I got- but I have only replaced the set of cartridges once in the 18 months that I have had my printer. You can find the ink cartridges readily at major big box electronic and office supply stores, and of course from HP online. You can also get off-brand ink cartridges, but I have never been brave enough to try them!!

Other HP Photosmart Printer options:



There are few other printers in the Photosmart series, with slightly different features, and at different price points. They are:

• C4580 $129.99. This is a slower printer, with a lower monthly capacity (1000 pages), and no separate photo tray. It uses a single Tri-Color ink cartridge in addition to Black. It has wireless capabilities.
• C5580 $149.99 This is a faster printer with a higher monthly capacity (3000 pages) and a separate photo tray. It uses the Tri-Color ink cartridge and has wireless capability (bluetooth).
• C6280 $159.99 Like the C5580, but it uses individual color ink cartridges, and does not have wireless capability.
• C7280 $299.99 ($269.99 with rebate). This is like the C6380, reviewed here, but also has fax capabilites.

Of note: My printer, the C7180, also has fax capabilities, which I have used a couple of times, with no problems whatsoever. Again, the setup and use is very intuitive. The reason I did not review here the C7280 is because they have changed the paper feed for the fax feature, and I cannot speak to how well that works (although I assume it does, given HP's reputation).

Conclusions:

This is a great All-in-One machine!! You can print, scan, and copy with ease. (And with the C7280, you also get fax capabilities). There is a version that will fit every pocktbook. Online support is terrific (well, as long as you are at least a little patient). It has a reasonable speed for an inkjet, and the print quality is GREAT.

I give it a big thumbs up! Let us know if you own one, and what you think.

Page Maps

Reported by Julia Stainton

One of the most challenging things about creating a papercraft project is deciding exactly what kind of a layout or design you want your project to have. Whether you are just starting out or have been papercrafting a long time, most people will be constantly searching for new ideas. Break out of that box of the simple layout and try something new. The PageMaps web-site is one of the best resources I know of to help with this problem.

Page Maps is a fabulous on-line site that can help you in a few ways. Started in April 2004 by Becky Fleck...Page Maps has a wealth of ideas and sketches for you to use for personal use. Not quite sure where to start with a design? Simply scroll through the sketches to find a design you like that works for your photos? If you're in a rut using the same layouts over and over, challenge yourself to using a new design. The Page Maps layouts are easy to use and have great up-to-date layouts to make your projects well balanced and unique.

Patterned Paper and flowers by Prima Marketing, Art of Framing and Everyday Petites stamps by Cornish Heritage Farms

Each month great new sketches or "maps" are released from Page Maps to keep you challenged. These Page Maps come in a wide variety of options making this a fabulous site for any scrapper. You'll find sketches in 12x12 format, 8.5 x 11" format, layouts with one photo or layouts with many and a few double page layouts as well. Each layout comes with fabulous samples by page designers in a variety of styles. These samples are wonderful for inspiration, cool ideas and you'll find digital designs as well as paper layouts.

Patterned Paper by Fancy Pants Designs and My Mind's Eye, chipboard letters from Chatterbox Writer's Block and Beautiful stamp sets from Cornish Heritage Farms

The great thing about sketches is that they are mostly timeless. Change the papers, colors and embellishments and you have a new up-t0-date look. Rotate or flip the sketches for even more design options. Love an 8.5 x 11 page maps but scrap in 12x12? A few alterations and you can still use it! Don't be a slave to the maps. Make them your own and get creative!

Thomas Kinkade Masculine Series paper, Leaf and Acorn stamp and Friendship Centers stamp set by Cornish Heritage Farms

Page Maps is not just limited to great sketch layouts. Since April 2005 Becky has been producing Card Maps each month as well. I'm loving these beautiful layouts for quick card inspiration. While not released monthly, Page Maps also has a great resource of tag maps, round maps (round scrapbooking layouts) as well as side maps and mini maps.

Patterned paper and flower by Prima, chipboard by Maya Road
Story Book stamp set from Cornish Heritage Farms

Each month the Page Maps site provides a link to their latest page of great sketches. While I love this page of sketches combined with beautiful samples...my favorite resource is the PDF link they include each month. Easy to use and print out for easy reference, you can find all sketches for the month on one printable page. As my scrapbooking area is quite a distance from my computer, this makes it so easy to print out and store in my craft room for easy reference and inspiration. The sketches are clean, well designed images. I love how the sizes of the photos printed on the sketch....makes it super easy to digitally crop my photos for a particular design, print and get right to work.

On most on-line sites, you'll find something called TOU, Terms of Use. This is something you should always read when using a site. If you are using the resource for personal use or commercial, it's only proper to make sure you are respecting the terms of the site. The Page Maps site has a great TOU, making it very easy to use. Of course....good etiquette when using these sketches for inspiration is to give credit where credit is due.

Patterned Paper and tape by Prima Marketing, felt by Queen and Co., Mocha Chica stamp set by Cornish Heritage Farms

While I'm actually reviewing the Page Maps web-site, I just couldn't write this article without mentioning a great book Becky has had published called Page Maps. Full of great sketches and ideas...my favorite idea is the accompanying cards with a sketch on each one. These are perfect for taking with you if you scrap at crops. You can check out this book right on the Page Maps web-site.

Pros:

• It's free, free, free!
• Lots of variations in layouts and designs and sizes of projects
• cards, tags as well as layouts
• unique fresh designs
• print out the PDF files and keep in a binder for easy reference
• new designs each month

Cons:

• I'm really stretching here trying to think of one.... site may take a while to load
• card sketches are designed for more scrappy style layouts. If you are a stamper looking for large image panel sketches...this may not be for you. Of course...stretch yourself and try one...you may love the style!

If you like Page Maps, Card Maps and all the samples on this site, you won't want to miss any of them. Sign up for e-mail updates right on the site at the bottom of the page.

To sum it all up...Page Maps is an incredible resource that you won't want to miss. Well worth your time and the ink to print out the maps! Click on your mouse and check them out. I guarantee you...you'll be just like me...waiting for the beginning of next month to see what Becky has up her sleeve this time. Do you like Page Maps? At Craft Critique...we love to offer our opinion and hear yours as well! What do you think?

Canon A570IS Digital Camera

Reported by Kim Fox

In this digital age, taking pictures is something that can often be taken for granted. Digital cameras can do it all; they can certainly do more than your mother's Polaroid. That is the case for my camera, the Canon A570Is Digital Camera. Just one in a huge line of Canon products.

Here are some of the specs:

• 7.1 mega pixels
• 4x opitical zoom
• optical image stablizer
• pictbridge

I don't have an allegiance to any particular line of cameras. I've been eyeing the Nikon D40, which my step-dad recently purchased and I can't wait to play around with it. I previously owned a HP digital camera and for $60 I got a lot of mileage out of it. But I've definitely come to like my Canon A570IS. Notice I said like and not love. I've owned this camera for just about a year now and there are probably a thousand features that I don't use and another thousand that I don't even know about. It's an exaggeration, but you get the point - it's a busy camera.

The Canon A570IS is easy enough to use though. All of the basics are there: easy to just point and shot; just as easy to transfer the pics from the camera to your computer and simple steps to erase pics directly from the camera. I do encourage you to flip through both of the camera's manuals - one for basic features and one for advanced functions.
The main point on first using the camera is to set the picture size. That way, if you don't have a large memory disk, you won't inadvertently fill it up. Another point as it relates to the memory, is to get a nice sized memory disk. I think at least 1G is enough. I have a 2G. That's plenty, but would you believe that I recently filled it up. I was shooting a lot of video. The other problem with a 2G memory disk is that I tend to use the camera for storage instead of removing the pics from the camera. Right now, I have 872 pics on my camera waiting to be transferred to their permanent home.

Back to the task at hand ... one feature that's advisable to learn early on is the self-timer feature. It always happens that I take lots of pics, but rarely am I in them. The self-timer can solve that issue along with preventing you from just taking the camera and pointing it at yourself. It's a very easy feature to use, you just need to have a tripod or somewhere to put the camera while it is unattended.

So that's the simple stuff ... it's the advanced settings that give me pause. There are 13 shooting modes to chose from. This is a good thing because it gives you a chance take a picture using a basic mode or to do something more advanced. Four of the shooting modes are labeled as the creative zone - manual (M), program (P), shutter speed (Tv), and aperture (Av). because that is where you can adjust the lighting, the ISO and so much more. I must admit, I have not spent much time in the creative zone. I like having the options, but there are just too many symbols to identify. There are symbols for white balancing, macro, red-eye and so much more. It can be a bit overwhelming especially when you don't have time to fiddle with the camera.

It's in the creative mode where I think the magic happens because of the variety of options that you have. For me though, it has just turned into a missed photo opportunity - while I'm trying to figure out the appropriate camera settings, I've missed the shot that I am preparing for. The shooting modes that I use most frequently are indoor, landscape and night snapshot along with the auto mode.

I'll briefly discuss the video mode. I have used it countless times. I like it. The video is clear, shaky at times, but that's user error and not camera function. Additionally, the audio was good quality. There is software that you will need to download to transfer the video from the camera to the computer. Another easy process. There are some editing features that accompany the software as well.

So although I don't offer a great deal of insight about this camera, I do know that I like it. I take it nearly everywhere I go and I use it almost daily.

It's currently available on Amazon.com for as much as $249, but there was one for $139.99 (I paid $172 for mine from Amazon) and it should include the following:

• the camera
• wrist strap
• 2 AA-type alkaline batteries
• AV cable
• interface cable
• memory card (16MB)
• software

Other places to purchase this camera are at Sears and Staples. Remember to seek out any online coupons before you make your purchase so that you can get the best possible deal.

There's good news for me (and you if you have or decide to purchase this camera), there are lots and lots of places to get info on using this particular camera.

Pros:

• good quality video and audio
• a variety of shooting modes for point and shoot or for more creativity
• 2.5 inch LCD monitor; it also has a viewfinder
• there are a variety of accessories to compliment this camera including several lens, a waterproof case and more

Cons:

• not a slim camera; has a bit of bulk and many not fit in your pocket
• setting the settings could take some time to adjust (and you could miss the shot you were setting up)
• new cameras are released so often and they offer many improvements over previous versions; I don't know if it's worth the money to splurge on this version when you could get something newer and snazzier for about the same price

Tips:

• read the manual; lots of good, basic info
• use lithium batteries; they will cost more, but they will last so much longer
• if all else fails, just point and shoot
• get a memory disk of 1G or higher
• invest in the AC adapter kit or rechargeable batteries especially if you'll be connected to the computer for long periods of time

Rating: 10 out of 10; very good camera for the price and I'm sure I will love it when I become a better photographer and begin to take advantage of the numerous features.

Here's the full review that I visited before I purchased the camera.


NOTE: I use a PC, so I am uncertain of how it operates with a Mac, however, on the Canon website there was a
pull down menu that included downloads for Macs. Also, I did not use any photo editing on the photos except I used Google's Picasa 3 to add text.