Pandigital One Touch Photo Scanner

Reported by Jessica Ripley


If you're a scrapbooker like me, chances are you have more photos on hand than the average person. We travel everywhere with our camera, and ignore the odd looks from passersby when we start snapping pictures in the grocery store, at the gas pump, etc. We know these everyday moments must be documented! Of course, thanks to digital cameras, we can take hundreds of photos anywhere, easily save and organize them on our computer, and then print them out when we're ready to scrapbook.

But what about all those traditional film photos?

1. They need to be scanned into a computer for preservation since they will eventually fade.
2. Since you should never scrap an original photo, scrapbooking those on film takes extra time to scan and print copies first. My time is precious!

While photos on film that I, myself, have taken only range back to high school or so, I have rescued countless numbers of them from family magnetic albums. Also, when I got married, I asked for a few photos of my new husband's family past and present. I was promptly presented by my sweet mother-in-law with thousands (yes, thousands) of photos in a huge Tupperware container with a sense of "here, you'll give them a good home."

"Yikes," I thought, "this will be a lot of scanning."

So, that was 8 years ago and I have barely started. Scanning photos in a traditional bed scanner just takes so much time! Open lid, carefully place as many photos will fit (3 or 4 tops), close lid, scan (wait!), repeat.

And then, I happened to run across the Pandigital One Touch Photo Scanner, and hoped I had found a solution. Santa was promptly informed that it was on the 'must' list, and he came through. And honestly, so does this product.

My first impression when opening up the box was that it looked like I had everything I needed to get started:

In the box comes:

• The scanner itself (which is about 5 3/4" x 3" and very light)
• An AC power adapter
• A 512 MB SD memory card
• Calibration card
• Cleaners for the roller and image sensor
• USB cable
  
• Plastic sheath
• Instruction booklet
  

The scanner itself is pretty basic and easy to understand what's what. Other than the slot for the photo to pass through, there is the power button and status light (which blinks in different ways to inform you if it's ready, the memory card is full, cleaning mode, etc):

There is also an adjustable guide for photos smaller than 4" x 6". I never used the guide and had fine results. But it is there for the perfectionist in you.

On the backside is the USB cable input (if you wish to connect directly to a computer, but entirely not necessary), the power cord, and the memory card slot:

The memory card which comes with the unit is an SD 512 MB. It is also compatible with many others, including MS (Memory Stick). Each photo is scanned in at 300 PPI (pixels per inch) with resolution around 1200 x 1800 (and smaller) depending on the size of the photo. With these things in mind, the card that comes with the unit will hold hundreds of photos before it is full. I found I liked to stop every 100 or so though to load them into my computer for organizing so it didn't get too overwhelming (to organize photos once they are in my computer, I highly recommend ACDSee, which you can read a review on here).

The memory card storage feature, combined with the portability of the unit, is what I find most exciting. Since it doesn't need a computer to work (you scan directly onto the memory card), I can carry this little unit with me to my in-laws that live hundreds of miles away, and simply scan while I'm there! No more huge Tupperware containers taking up my space.

The process of actually scanning the photos in is very quick and easy. In the box comes a plastic sheath which the instructions state should be used in order to get the best results.

For my first photo, I took this step.

The plastic sheath will hold a 4" x 6" photo and smaller, though the scanner will also take a photo up to 4.1" X 12" long. The black area around the photo will not be shown once the photo is scanned in, making it possible to scan smaller images than 4" x 6" (such as the one above) without the need for additional cropping. There is a drawback to this, just in the fact that if you have a photo with dark edges, the scanner will think those areas are to be cut off. I didn't run across this problem, but it's clearly stated in the instructions as a warning.

Just for comparison sake, I also tried to scan the same photo without the plastic sleeve to see if it would make a difference:


It really didn't. In the comparison below, the top photo was scanned with the plastic sheath, and the bottom without. I can't tell a difference:

Since the scanning process is so quick (about 6-7 seconds per photo), not having to load each one into the sheath before sending it through makes it that much quicker. What I found the sheath best for was if a photo had curled edges, old sticky tape on it, or was too small to stay straight as it went through the roller. Placing photos like these in the sheath first solved any problems those issues might cause.

I also used it for photos that were a little thicker than usual, such as old Polaroids. It took the scanner a second to get a good grip on the thicker photo, but it did feed through fine. According to the guide, it will take photos up to 1.0mm thick.

(P.S. yes that is me on the right. I figure if I'm going to write an article with old photos I have no right to embarrass anyone but myself when showing them... but don't ask about the socks with the dress because I just don't know either).

You can see in the photo above the little bit of black mat on the lower left that wasn't automatically cropped by the scanner. This is easily cropped off, and didn't happen very often. I haven't adjusted anything on the photos other than size to post them on the web, so what you see is a good representation of the quality too.

The unit also comes with pieces to clean both the roller and the image sensor. This was super easy and took only seconds.


I just can't tell you how much I love this product. Anything that makes my life easier and my crafty time more fun is a winner to me! At a MSRP around $100.00, it may seem pricey, but to me it is such a time saver I consider it a great deal. And the fact that I am finally taking steps to really preserve precious memories makes it all the more sweet.


To sum up:

Pros:

• It's portable and doesn't need a computer! Scan here, there, everywhere there are photos you wish to keep. As long as you can plug it in to power, you're good to go.
  

• It comes with everything you need to get started (and keep going). The memory card holds hundreds of photos before it is full (and then just empty into your computer and start again).

• The items that come with it make it work that much better. From the plastic sheath for scanning curled or small photos, to the easy cleaning tools.

• It makes me feel great knowing I am preserving memories that might have otherwise been damaged or faded away.

Cons:

• You do need to plug it in to a power source making it slightly limited in where you can scan. If it only had battery power, it would be amazing. (Scan at the beach? Why not?)

• It won't scan very dark photos very well due to the automatic cropping of dark edges.

• Once you scan all your film photos in, you may not find it very useful. Also if you don't have many film photos it may not be a good investment for the price.
• It does only take photos up to 4.1" wide, for 5" x 7" and larger, you will still need to use a traditional bed scanner.
  

So, do you think this would be a handy thing to have? Why or why not? If you have one and would like to share some tips we'd love to hear from you!

Rainbow Swirl Pencils by RoseArt

Reported by Heather Strenzwilk


Rainbow Swirl Pencils by RoseArt jumped into my hand when I first saw them. I was immediately attracted to the marble looking pencils with their multi-colored lead. Their jumbo size and 5.5mm lead make them good for artists of all ages. The pencil barrels are made of real wood and can be sharpened with a large pencil sharpener (or a jumbo make-up pencil sharpener).

Notice the color variations in writing or in doodling.

The 3 lead colors (the product labeling says 4) are in a checkerboard style pattern. This allows multiple colors to write simultaneously. I watched my hand while writing; I (and probably others) adjust the angle of the pencil as I write. This natural adjustment creates some of the color variation on the paper. Other fun variations were drawing a circular or elliptical pattern without removing the pencil from the paper, and using them with a Spirograph.

One pencil was used for this lettering

The Rainbow Swirls are fun for ordinary doodling or journaling. They offer a softer and more colorful look than markers. Another benefit over markers is that you can erase mistakes (I used a white Magic Rub eraser). I did not like the pencils for general coloring because I found my results too muddy, but depending on the project- this could be a plus.

(The blossoms (Squigglefly) were each colored with a different pencil. I think the colors look muddy).

These pencils are very sturdy; I have owned my first set for over two years and even with frequent use they are about half their original length. The pencils sharpen smoothly in a manual sharpener and I don't have problems with broken tips. I don't sharpen them to an extremely pointy tip because a slightly blunter tip works better for the colors to meld.

This is a close-up of the tri-colored tip. I trimmed the sleeve so it won't slip during use.

My only issue is that the plastic sleeve around the barrel of the pencil sometimes comes loose and tends to slip while I am writing. I have solved this either by trimming the sleeve so that it does not cover my hand hold area, or by removing the sleeve completely during use (it slips off).

This journal page uses all 5 pencils from the set.

I also own Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth Magic pencils which are very similar to the Rainbow Swirls. Both have the same size barrel and checkerboard style lead. Neither pencil smeared on white matte cardstock. I found the Koh-I-Noor's to have a harder lead, resulting in more dust when writing; the leads also tended to chip and break more often. The Koh-I-Noor's are semi-erasable with a regular (pink) pencil eraser. Koh-I-Noor's are more difficult to find, but are available individually and have a wider color selection including neon and Americana (red/white/blue). I use both brands but prefer the Rainbow Swirls.

This study of texture shows color variations when the pencil is rubbed on paper over a texture plate.

Pros:

• Jumbo size makes them easy to hold

• Smooth writing, leads don't break

• Erasable yet non-smearing

Cons:

• Somewhat limited color range- pink, purple or neon colors would be a good addition

• Plastic sleeve around the pencil may slip during use

Rainbow Swirl pencils by RoseArt are an easy and inexpensive way to add unique color combinations to your projects. The jumbo size pencils are long lasting, easy to use, non-toxic, erasable and non-smearing. I have been using them for over two years and they are a favorite at my craft table or for casual doodling. I rate Rainbow Swirl pencils a 9/10.

Do you use the Rainbow Swirl pencils, or do you have another favorite multi-colored pencil? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Bind-it-All by Zutter

Reported by Taylor Usry


This is the Bind-it-All v2.0 from Zutter. Doesn't it look like fun? This is a really great picture of it because it shows you two of the Bind-it-All's most attractive features - the size and portability. And who doesn't love the pale pink color?? The Bind-it-All v2.0 has a couple of new features, like the built-in spacing bar, that I can't properly tell you about in this article. I personally have the previous version of the Bind-it-All. However, I love it just as much!


This is what the original version of the Bind-it-All looks like. It's a warm shade of blue, and is the same size and weight as the newer version. Also shown in this picture are coils available for purchase separately, and the coil width guide, which is included with the Bind-it-All. You can purchase a spacing bar separately for this model, to help with hole punching. This original version still has totes available for it. That way you can store your crafting essentials and take it with you to crops and on trips; it looks like it will fit in the new (pink) tote designed for Version 2.0!

Both versions come with a very informative demo cd. It offers so many tips, clear instructions, and wonderful examples of projects to make with your machine. Additionally, you can access the video tutorials made by Zutter, which provide visual help (for people like me, who need to SEE it to grasp it!). The Bind-it-All will punch holes in materials, including chipboard, fabric covered chipboard, up to eight pieces of cardstock, plastic, and cds, that are up to 1/8" thick. There are four settings on the machine for hole punching - open, continuous, cover, and inner pages. The cover and inner pages settings are especially helpful when you are making small books so that everything lines up perfectly.


The most important thing I've learned about my Bind-it-All is how to arrange the pieces when binding a book. Above is a small coloring book I made for my daughter. It's full of digital images for her so she has something small when we travel. The covers are cereal boxes cut to the size I wanted. Once I made the pages and covers, I lined them up with the covers facing each other, so that when you close the book the edge where the binding wires join is hidden. Tying ribbon on top is a fun addition, and makes the wires seem less boring!

To tighten, or close, the wires, simply line them up in the front of the machine (making sure to have chosen the width that corresponds with the coils you are using) and press the lever down. The Bind-it-All comes with a convenient guide showing the coil sizes (pictured with the original version picture above) which is an invaluable resource for me.

I will admit that when I first got the machine it took me a few tries to get the coils to be the perfect circle shape I wanted them to be. Also, if for some reason you need to open your book and insert a page or two you left out, it is almost impossible to get the coils to return to their original perfect shape. My solution, as I mentioned earlier, is to add ribbon to the coils - it hides all of my mistakes!


It isn't always necessary to use coils with the Bind-it-All. Here I used my machine to punch holes through chipboard coasters (both sides are covered in paper) and then simply threaded grosgrain ribbon through the holes. Once it was all assembled, it made a holder for my Copic collection. The box came together in no time -- the Bind-it-All punches six holes at a time, which makes projects a breeze. In all fairness, the six holes only end up being a total of about three inches wide, so for binding a catalog or large journal it does take a bit more time.

Another feature I love is the trap for the "confetti" mess. When you punch holes they drop into a space inside the machine and stay there until you open the door and dump them out. A small extra I know, but any mess I don't make is time saved, in my mind!

As someone who uses this kind of machine for small projects, books, journals, and gifts, I have found the Bind-it-All to be a perfect match for my needs. It is sturdy, stands up to repeated use, and punches cleanly. Accessories for the machine are readily available - you can purchase coils, precut pages, books, album kits, precut chipboard, and spine covers from Zutter and other sources on the internet. You don't have to purchase the accessories that are made specifically for the machine for projects, though. I use chipboard coasters, cereal (and other) boxes from my pantry, cut my own cardstock, and use old cd's. The possibilities are endless.

Some other projects I've made with my Bind-it-All:
- bound Stampin' Up catalogs
- chipboard coaster books
- envelope albums
- punched cardstock for use on scrapbook pages
- journals
- CD albums

To wrap this up for you, here are a few pros and cons of the machine:

Pros:

• lightweight and easily portable
• punches through a wide variety of materials
• very sturdy machine - hold up well over time and repeated use
• No "confetti" mess - the machine stores it until you dump it out
  

Cons:

• Better for small projects
• Can be difficult to get the coils closed perfectly
  
• not easy to open coils and add pages

Do you have a Bind-it-All? What are your favorite things about it? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Perfect Pearls

Reported by Jenny Barnett Rohrs

I need to make a confession. Even though I'm a pretty hard-core multi-crafter, I'd never tried Perfect Pearls. Sure, I've used straight-up pigment powders for stamping and on polymer clay and I like those just fine. However, Perfect Pearls boasts that it has a built-in resin to help it stick to surfaces, and I thought it was high time to give them a go.

First off, I'll say I like the "kit" factor- PP's are packaged to give you 4 colors in a family, plus wide brush for dusting, and fine-tipped brush for watercoloring or working in small spaces. You also get a stamping square of Perfect Medium, which seems to be like a pigment stamp pad but without any pigment (kind of like a VersaMark pad, if you've seen those).

For my testing purposes, I decided to try stamping on different colors of paper to test the vibrancy of the pigments.

(stamp by Inkadinkadoo)

I stamped the 4 pieces of cardstock with the Perfect Medium, and then blended the blue and green colors from the "Aged Patina" color family, right on the paper. If you notice, I used both glossy and matte cardstock in white, just to see if it would stick well to the glossy.
Surprise, surprise! It stuck VERY well... and I loved how easy it was to brush off the excess. With the matte pieces of cardstock, I had to vigorously brush the excess pigment off, as it tended to cling. The good news is that even with vigorous brushing, the Perfect Medium kept the pigments right it place.


As you can see with this sample, the colors are incredibly vivid on black. Stunning! And what you can't see is the lovely iridescent factor.

Next I stamped some waterproof ink on watercolor paper, and added some water to the Perfect Pearls to make watercolor paints. The blue and green maintained a translucency- but the gold became almost opaque (note the butterfly to the far left).

Here's a sheet of white Premo clay that I embossed with a texture. On the left side I burnished some Perfect Pearls on with my finger. In the middle and to the right I used the big duster brush. What a great way to bring out texture in clay- and to change the color of the clay!
Same technique as above, but with black clay. Like the black paper, the result is stunning. I really like better on the dark shades than on the white!

Lastly, I had some stray powder on my watercolor paper, so I spritzed it with some water and played around with it. Again, I noticed that the gold was more opaque, while the blue, green, and silver colors were more translucent. I think I'd like this for backgrounds- and cheaper than those glimmery sprays, too.

I still want to try Perfect Pearls in Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel, but for my first day's play with it, I'm impressed.

Here is the nitty-gritty:

Pros:

• Comes as a kit, with everything you need to get going!

• Color families are nicely coordinated.

• Resin is built-in, so you don't need to add gum arabic to make watercolor paint. Just add water!

• That resin factor makes it really merge with polymer clay to make a durable color.

• Multi-use makes it a good value!

Cons:

• Can't purchase colors individually, which means A) you'll end up with a lot of extra paintbrushes and stamping spots and B) you can't singly select the colors you want.
  

• Kind of pricey, between $10 and $14 dollars retail.

Have you been playing with Perfect Pearls? Have a tip or technique to share? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Book Review: Photojojo! by Amit Gupta with Kelly Jensen

Reported by Kristine Fowler

A few months back, somewhere in the blogosphere, I saw mention of what was then a newly published book called Photojojo!: Insanely Great Photo Projects and DIY Ideas. It sounded pretty cool, and on what was really an impulse buy, I ordered it up from Amazon.com. Right on schedule, it arrived a couple of weeks later. I flipped through it and got really excited about all the great content and ideas. Then, as they say "life happens" and quite frankly it went to the shelf. Recently, though, I pulled it out again, and started to give it a thorough once over -- again I got excited. With a great sigh of relief, I am now 100% convinced that my impulse buy was a good one.

If you're unfamiliar with Photojojo! (like I was), you might not know that the original Photojojo is actually a website - www.photojojo.com- that is devoted to bringing you (in their words) 'the very best Photo tips, DIY projects, and Gear.' They publish a newsletter weekly, and have all past newsletters archived on the site. The book Photojojo! is kind of like a "Best of" Photojojo.com project book. There is also a Photojojo Flickr group and a page on Facebook. If you are already a subscriber of Photojojo.com, and chances are you might be (as there are over 100,000 existing subs), you are probably wondering why on earth it took me so long to join in the fun.

So, about the book.....

The book Photojojo! includes more than 50 projects -- all having to do with either photos or photography. Most of the projects require only general crafting skills and full instructions and illustrations are provided for each one. It is full of bright, fun and colorful photos - loads of tips and tricks and oddly enough - humor. You need simply read the back cover to see what I mean by this as here the author boldly tells you to "STOP READING THE COVER, SILLY, the inside's way better" and they're right!

The projects in the book are divided into 2 sections:

"Part One: Do More With Your Photos" gives you loads of uniquely creative ideas for using your photos ranging from home decor (e.g. Photo Lampshade), to fashion (e.g. The Purse with the Secret Photo Lining), to food (e.g. Make Photo Cupcakes), Photo Gifts (e.g. DIY Snowglobe) and even some Photo Toys and General Silliness (e.g. make Photo Tattoos).

"Part Two: Have More Fun with Your Camera" includes ideas to get you shooting (e.g. a DIY Time Machine), tips on how to use your camera in creative ways (e.g. Camera Toss) and even some things that the authors call 'Camera Hacks' (e.g. Turn a Bottle Cap into a Tripod Head).

Not all of the creative projects in the book appeal to me, nor should they, since we can't all like everything; I probably won't be trying the 'Camera Toss' any time soon (yes, it's almost exactly as it sounds), but Photojojo is definitely an interesting read. The authors have truly succeeded in bringing the idea of Fun! to your photos and photography.

So what did I create after reading Photojojo!? Here's a quick peek:

Project #1: Instant Book
As soon as I saw this one, I just knew I had to try it out. Here is how it all starts (I used Adobe Photoshop to set this up, but any other similar image editing application can be used as well)

and with a few simple folds, a slice and a teensy bit of adhesive, you can transform it into this --- an instant mini-book:

Here's what the cover looks like, although there's a boo-boo as you can see a coloured photo edge on the right-hand side. This is NOT the fault of the instructions provided by Photojojo, but rather my own poor photoshopping skills here. I must not have had everything lined up quite perfectly -- but you get the idea.

Is that cute or what? Now there are soooo many other projects swirling through my head using this mini-book format (think favourite recipes, quotes, verses, scripture, favourite people, etc.) and the cover could also be dressed up ever-so-sweetly with some items from my scrapbooking stash, but since this article is about Photojojo, I'll have to leave those other ideas until another time.

Project #2: Photo Ornaments
This project looked like fun and the instructions straightforward enough so I gave it a whirl. Here's my result:

Was it as easy to construct as I first thought? No. Would I make it again? Probably. It's a neat-looking, low-cost and personalized decorating approach, but if you're looking for staying power - this is not it. They are definitely what I would call delicate. During construction, I had trouble with the brads that hold the pieces together at each end. The first ones I tried had prongs that were much too short to hold the unit together, and it just slipped apart when I tried to shape it into the ball. I did find some longer ones in my stash though and these worked much better in the end.

Project #3: Turn a Fork into a Photo Stand
This one sounded pretty crazy and I just had to try it out. Believe it or not, it was trickier than I first imagined. There was a lot of trial and error getting the prongs bent just right so that the fork would stand up on it's own. I think my version could still use some tweaking to neaten it up, but for now here it is.

A back-side view:

Front-side View:

And finally straight-on:

When all is said and done - it's definitely different - and maybe even a conversation starter if placed in 'just the right spot' in your home. Unfortunately, I don't see many of these in my future though - it's just not my thing I guess. If trying this project out for yourself, I would not recommend using your grandma's fine flatware - she would not be impressed. I would suggest checking out the dollar marts and thrift stores instead!

So to sum it up... here are my thoughts on the book Photojojo!

Pros:

• Price-wise the book is a fair value: although technically a soft cover, the cover is super durable and the inside pages are made from high quality, heavy-weight smooth paper (cover price $21.99 US/ $26.99 Can).

• Supplies for some of the projects are a little 'unusual' (e.g. inkjet printable photo fabric) but Photojojo always gives you tips (often citing online sources) to find them.

• Beautiful color photos and easy to follow step-by step instructions for each project/technique.

• Inspires you to get those digital photos off the computer and into your life.

• It's an entertaining read - Gupta's and Jensen's humorous approach to photos and photography is refreshing.

Cons:

• You can get most of this information from the Photojojo website newsletter archive and can get even more each week with a free subscription.

• Some of the ideas included (e.g. The Amazing Doggie Cam: Attaching your camera to your four-legged friend which is featured on the cover) are just down right silly.

Have you read Photojojo!: Insanely Great Photo Projects and DIY Ideas? Any favorite projects to share? Leave us a comment (and link, if you have one), and let us know!

A Note From Our Editor: Online Craft Communities -- Changes and Expectations

Written by Craft Critique's Editor-in-Chief Sarah Moore

As the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Craft Critique, I often long for an Oprah-esque "What I Know For Sure" moment. Also referred to as the Jerry Springer "Final Thought," or the Jon Stewart "Meet Me at Camera Three," editors yearn for opportunities to step from behind their Wizard-of-Oz-curtain and share an opinion, or ten.

Sure, my segment doesn't have a fancy title... maybe it will someday (suggestions welcomed). For now we will refer to it as "A Note From Our Editor" since "Sarah Speaks" or "Sarah's Soapbox" smacks of narcissism.

So what is it that is making me open my big mouth today? A bit of drama in the world of online crafting communities... the second sale of popular web forums Craftster.org and Splitcoaststampers.com. Both communities are personal favorites of mine, and both veterans in the world of crafty forums. These are two companies that have set the bar for what a crafty community should be. Both communities built out of a love of craft and grown into successful, thriving, families of crafters.

You can read all about the details of the sales on Craftster HERE and Splitcoaststampers HERE. I don't have any news you don't have access to yourselves. I do want to offer my commentary, hear yours, and offer our readers a place to share about what they think makes online communities successful, or not.

Note: Craftster and Splitcoaststampers "ain't goin' no place" anytime soon. These are two communities built from a strong foundation. They have dedicated members that aren't about to up and abandon a site just because their founders have left. But the change does beg the question, what makes an online community successful, what makes one fail, and what makes one a hot commodity?

Building Success: For me, people are the key. Leadership that isn't just out there moderating the heck out of a site, but participating as well. Getting the conversation going, welcoming new members, sharing their expertise, and keeping things positive are all imperative. In my experience, Craftster and Splitcoaststampers are great examples of all these components. The plain and simple fact that all the leaders on both sites are just darn nice people helps too.

What is the site offering? Other than crafty chat, what's there to see? Tutorials, galleries, challenges, contests... what keeps members returning? What is the reward? On the most successful sites I participate in, an easy-to-search gallery of inspiration is key. Free patterns and tutorials a close second, and a place to show off a bit can be nice too. Who doesn't like having their ego stroked?

Keeping Things Friendly: I often hear people complaining about some communities being cliquey, or hard to break into. I personally haven't experienced this, but I am a "put it all out there" kind of gal. Most forums tend to amplify reality to the nth degree... a little cliquey in the real world, a lot cliquey online. Besides, there is that whole "this isn't the real world" perception that tends to mess with people's heads.

Sometimes forums do get nasty and dramatic because the face-to-face element is gone. Sometimes, the meanness is caused by downright crazy people just being crazy. I often say, "for all you know these people are eating raw bacon dipped in mayonnaise as they are posting." A good community has a zero tolerance policy for nastiness. Posts that attack or disparage are deleted immediately and members banned or suspended.

To Profit or Not to Profit? Do members care about advertising? Is it perceived negatively as muddling up a site? In most cases I don't think so. As a frequent forum lurker, I assume advertising is what keeps the servers running. As a site owner myself, I know that selling advertising is just as challenging as running the community can be. Site owners deserve the cash, and the only other option is selling product, and personally, I wouldn't want to touch retail with a 10-foot pole... but that's just me. Many of the most successful forums are supported by retail sales. But if the shop closes, so likely will the forum.

Some larger retailers like EK Success' new Spotted Canary have recently launched into web community building. They seem to do a good job keeping the fact that they are owned by EK Success on the down low.

The Future of Forums: I think most site owners would agree that the rise of blogging and the addition of Facebook and Twitter has dramatically reduced forum traffic.

Here below are some communities frequented by our staff and fans... feel free to add your own in the comments below. Visit these sites, poke around and tell us what you think!


Craftster

Splitcoaststampers

Spotted Canary

Fiskateers

Etsy Community

ScrapGal

The Mosy Scrapper

Ravelry

Burda Style

Craft: Forums

Paper Craft Planet

Rubber Stamp Chat

Scrap Freak

I Love to Create

Scrap Love

Craftig

SewGirls

Plaid Online

Get Crafty

DigiShopTalk

We'd love for you to weigh in on some of the topics I've introduced above. What makes a great community? What makes one fail? What is missing in the world of crafty communities, and how can we all help bring multiple craft genres and generations together in one place of inspiration and sharing?

Premo Shapelets

Reported by Sara McKenzie

Premo! Sculpey is one of the many types of Sculpey polymer clay made by Polyform. Among other applications, it is designed for use in jewelry making. And Sculpey helped to make this easier with their "Shapelets": a series of affordable, plastic templates.

The set shown above is the Heart Shapes; there is also the Triangle Shapes & Segments, and the Square Shapes & Segments. I've seen them on the internet from $3.50 to $3.95.

Below shows one of the two sets of templates that comes in the Heart Shapes set. The other template has, of course, hearts!

The photo below gives you a better idea of how large each individual template is in this set:

The Square and Triangle Shapes contain one sheet each, but with multiple shapes in each frame. You can use them individually, or layer them on top of each other. See below, the templates from the Square Shapes set. To use them, you gently press the shapes out of the "frame". What results is a positive (the shape) and a negative image (the remaining frame).

Below is the size of the shapes in the lower left template. You can see these are sized to primarily make jewelry, but could also be used to make embellishments for your other art work.


I played around with a variety of shapes to make some fun pieces- some of which, frankly, I have not yet decided how to use them!

Here is the placement of a template on top of black polymer clay that I conditioned and then ran through my roller together with a texture plate to create the fan shapes:

I used my craft knife right through the frame to cut out the desired piece. Then I used the "positive" piece, the fan shape itself, to cut two more pieces of conditioned clay in larger sizes. Since this isn't going to be a lesson on polymer clay, I won't go into all of the details, but the resulting piece is below. It's a short necklace, to be worn choker-style:

I used some of the Square Shapes to make the necklace below:

And the Triangle Shapes were used to make the earrings, below (don't look to closely or critically: the templates don't make up for sloppy workmanship! I need to spend more time with my polymer clay techniques...).

So, after my afternoon of play, what did I think of the Shapelets?

Pros:

• Good assortment of sizes. They will work for jewelry or for embellishments on pages, altered books, cards, boxes- almost anything.


• You can (and should!) use them as templates for all manner of materials. I only played with polymer clay so far, but obviously they would work with paper clay and metal clay, not to mention plain old paper itself!


• They are a sturdy, thin plastic that should last through multiple uses, and wash off easily (if you use them with paint or ink as stencils, for example).


• The price is right!

Cons:

• The material is soft enough to be cut with your craft knife. So be careful if you take your knife directly to the material, rather than tracing the shape first (lesson learned on my part!).


• The are somewhat brittle. I broke two of the frames trying to release the small square shapes. So you have to be careful, and might even need to use a craft knife to help cut through the plastic to release the shapes.


• You can find them by Googling "Premo Shapelets" but they do not appear to be very common.

What do you think? Have you tried them? Me, I'm off to experiment more!!