3 Tips For Scrapbooking Material

I absolutely love scrapbooking and since yesterday was National Scrapbooking Day, I think I'll publish an article here on behalf of the "holiday".

3 Tips For Scrapbooking Material
By Elizabeth Stewart


When buying scrapbooking material, you should really read the labels to ensure you are getting top quality material. There are plenty of scrapbook stores, along with the big box chain retailers selling scrapbooking supplies right now and rightfully so. Did you know the number of people scrapbooking has continued to grow at a steady rate over the past 4 years? Because of this, and so many new people getting started, you are now seeing scrapbook stores popping up all over the place. So, when shopping, here is what to look for in scrapbooking material.

1. Acid Free Products: This is paper having a basic or neutral pH around 7.0 or higher. This is extremely important in helping to preserve your documents and pictures. Almost all paper manufactured now is acid free. This is due to a shift of using China clay to a cheaper chalk. Which makes sense: when your stomach is upset, or you have heartburn, you take Tums, which is essentially chalk. This chalk helps to remove the acidity from your stomach, just like it does the paper.



2. Lignin Free: This really goes with acid-free, as they are sort of the same thing. Lignin is a main component in the walls of the plants, including trees. While a very good strength component, this chemical compound must be removed from wood pulp, which in turn is used to make paper. If the sun hits this lignin, it will start to turn yellow. Have you seen those older photo albums, which are now yellow? This is why. And if the pictures are yellow as well, it is the photo paper, which was not lignin free, as well as the acidity of the photo album paper causing this.



3. Buffered: This means the paper has been treated with an extra chemical, such as bicarbonate, which will increase the papers alkaline reserves. The reason for this is to help protect the paper from any other acids in the environment or in the paper itself.

These 3 things should be the first key phrases you are checking for when you are buying scrapbooking materials: acid free, lignin free, and buffered. They may cost a bit more, but how valuable are your pictures? Why spend the time taking the pictures, then placing them into a scrapbook, only to have them deteriorating in the next 5 years? Take care of them now. Preserve them now, and keep them in their original state for as long as possible. Just make sure you are buying quality scrapbooking material.


For more information about scrapbooking, visit Making A Creative Memory

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Notecards for Military Servicemembers

I spent two days creating some red, white and blue notecards for folks at our church to send to military servicemen and women overseas. Our congregation (Eastridge Church of Christ) sends cards, letters, pictures and packages to military folks on a regular basis. Our goal is to let them know that they are cared about and prayed for by many people.

Making notecards is really a small effort, but it's something that I can do. I hope to provide a variety cards each Sunday so that anyone who wants to write a personal note can do so without feeling the need to go out and purchase a card or try to write a long letter. The convenience of having the cards and envelopes at the church will hopefully make it easier for others to jot down a note of encouragement right on the spot. I know I often forget to buy a card for someone and don't want to make a special trip sometimes. This eliminates that worry.

Right now, I have 16 cards made and I hope to have more ready by this Sunday. No two cards are alike. I love being creative and I love doing things for others, so this is a treat for me.

Making notecards for military servicemembers...consider doing this yourself. It doesn't matter if you believe in the war or not. Making another person feel important doesn't have anything to do with politics. You make someone feel special is something that you do because it's the right thing to do.

First Day of School Letter

This is a copy of a letter I gave to my daughter's teacher when she started Kindergarten. It is meant to convey my thoughts and wishes for the school year.



Dear __________________,

You are to be my precious daughter's teacher this year. I entrust her to your loving care and pray that both of you will be a blessing to one another. She is only one of many children in your class, but she is MY child. Her gifts are unique. Her outlook is vibrant. Her desire to learn is great. Each child in your classroom has a wonder of their own. I long for you to discover what makes each one special...but most of all, I want you to know that my Kaley is special. She is special to her Dad, Brent. She is special to her Mom and to her big sister, Bethany. I give her to you for the next year with the desire that you will give her and all of her classmates your very best. I believe in my heart that you have this same desire in mind.

This letter is meant to convey to you the heartfelt wishes I have for the coming year. I hope it will be one filled with many exciting experiences and moments of enlightenment for everyone. The respect I have for you is immense, as teaching is a career of unparalleled commitment. I have no doubt that in the coming months, you will be challenged with tasks and demands above and beyond what most people are even aware of, myself included. We offer our assistance for any need you might have and hope that you will call upon us if you have any requests, even if it is just to talk or ask for special prayers. Please know that my husband and I are so thankful that you have chosen to teach. It is a rare and wonderful thing to share in the life of another person. We look forward to getting to know you better in the coming months.

Warmest Regards,

Me

Seed Tapes

Seed tapes are an easy way to plant a row of seeds with precision spacing. This is a valuable technique when you have a short supply of seeds, or each seed is expensive. It provides for uniform spacing and avoids the need to thin out sprouting seedlings.

Simply put, seed tapes are just seeds fastened to some sort of thin biodegradable paper by an adhesive that is also biodegradable. This allows for the plant roots to grow through the paper as the adhesive dissolves around the seed. This allows the plant to grow unobstructed.

In a small pan, dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in 1 cup of cold water. Cook over a medium flame, stirring constantly to prevent the mixture from getting lumpy. Once it starts to boil and turns into a translucent gel-like mixture, remove it from the stove and let it cool to room temperature.

Cut the length of some paper towels as long as you would like your strips to be. The width should be about 1/2 to 3/4 inches wide.

Space your seeds according to the packaging they arrived in or according to your planting design.

Take the cooled cornstarch mixture and put a few spoonfuls into a small plastic bag. Work the gel mixture toward one corner of the bag, removing as much excess air as possible, then seal the bag. Next you'll need to snip off the corner of the bag to create a pastry bag like tool, similar to those that bakers use to ice cakes. If you are doing more than one type of seed, think about the size of the cut you make in the bag first. Smaller seeds will only need a tiny speck of gel, while larger ones may need a glob. It's always possible to put a bigger notch in the corner of the bag if you need bigger globs, so start with your small seeds first.

At this point it's a simple matter of dabbing on the gel at the right spacing and putting the seed in each dab.

One creative use of seed tapes is to plant them in patterns. This would allow you to precisely determine where various flowers or foil age will grow in relation to each other.

I'm not sure where I learned this, but it is certainly not an original thought on my part. I love the idea, though.

Where to Learn About Job Openings

Where to Learn About Job Openings

Personal contacts - Eighty percent of available jobs are never advertised, and over half of all employees get their jobs through networking, according to BH Careers International. Therefore, the people you know—friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances, teachers, and former coworkers—are some of the most effective resources for your job search. The network of people that you know and the people that they know can lead to information about specific job openings that are not publicly posted. To develop new contacts, join student, community, or professional organizations.

School career planning and placement offices - High school and college placement offices help their students and alumni find jobs. They allow recruiters to use their facilities for interviews or career fairs. Placement offices usually have a list of part-time, temporary, and summer jobs offered on campus. They also may have lists of jobs for regional, nonprofit, and government organizations. In addition to linking you to potential employers, career planning offices usually provide career counseling, career testing, and job search advice. Some have career resource libraries; host workshops on job search strategy, résumé writing, letter writing, and effective interviewing; critique drafts of résumés; conduct mock interviews; and sponsor job fairs.

Employers - Through your library and Internet research, develop a list of potential employers in your desired career field. Employer Web sites often contain lists of job openings. Web sites and business directories can provide you with information on how to apply for a position or whom to contact. Even if no open positions are posted, do not hesitate to contact the employer and the relevant department. Set up an interview with someone working in the same area in which you wish to work. Ask them how they got started, what they like and dislike about the work, what type of qualifications are necessary for the job, and what type of personality succeeds in that position. Even if they don’t have a position available, they may be able to put you in contact with other people who might hire you, and they can keep you in mind if a position opens up. Make sure to send them your résumé and a cover letter. If you are able to obtain an interview, be sure to send a thank-you note. Directly contacting employers is one of the most successful means of job hunting.

Classified ads - The "Help Wanted" ads in newspapers list numerous jobs. You should realize, however, that many other job openings are not listed, and that the classified ads sometimes do not give all of the important information. They may offer little or no description of the job, working conditions, or pay. Some ads do not identify the employer. They may simply give a post office box to which you can mail your résumé, making follow-up inquiries very difficult. Some ads offer out-of-town jobs; others advertise employment agencies rather than actual employment opportunities.

Internet networks and resources - The Internet is an invaluable resource. Use it to find advice on conducting your job search more effectively; to search for a job; to research prospective employers; and to communicate with people who can help you with your job search. No single Web site will contain all the information available on employment or career opportunities, so in addition to the Web sites listed below, use a search engine to find what you need. The different types of sites that may be useful include general career advice sites, job search sites, company Web sites, trade and professional association Web sites, and forums. Internet forums, also called message boards, are online discussion groups where anyone may post and read messages. Use forums specific to your profession or to career-related topics to post questions or messages and to read about other peoples’ job searches or career experiences.

State employment service offices - The State employment service, sometimes called the Job Service, operates in coordination with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. Local offices, found nationwide, help job seekers to find jobs and help employers to find qualified workers at no cost to either. To find the office nearest you, look in the State government telephone listings under "Job Service" or "Employment."

Federal Government - Information on obtaining a position with the Federal Government is available from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) through USAJOBS, the Federal Government's official employment information system. This resource for locating and applying for job opportunities can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov or through an interactive voice response telephone system at (703) 724-1850 or TDD (978) 461-8404. These numbers are not tollfree, and charges may result.

Private employment agencies and career consultants - These agencies can be helpful, but they may charge you for their services. Most operate on a commission basis, with the fee dependent upon a percentage of the salary paid to a successful applicant. You or the hiring company will pay the fee. Find out the exact cost and who is responsible for paying associated fees before using the service.

Although employment agencies can help you save time and contact employers who otherwise might be difficult to locate, the costs may outweigh the benefits if you are responsible for the fee. Contacting employers directly often will generate the same type of leads that a private employment agency will provide. Consider any guarantees that the agency offers when determining if the service is worth the cost.

Community agencies - Many nonprofit organizations, including religious institutions and vocational rehabilitation agencies, offer counseling, career development, and job placement services, generally targeted to a particular group, such as women, youths, minorities, ex-offenders, or older workers.

This information was obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information, follow this link: BLS

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Making Money With PayPerPost

I have a friend who has earned some income from this group and I intend to start using them with another blog that I have. If you're interested in getting paid to blog, then check out the link.

A Very Special Letter

This is a letter from my sister:

Dear :

I hope this letter finds you well. We are doing great with spring in full swing in the Midwest. The green grass, buds on the trees and daffodils in bloom remind us of God's infinite power and the blessings He has bestowed upon us. However, not everyone is as fortunate as we are. There are individuals in this country and around the world who live in unimaginable poverty.

In July, Lauren and I will go on a 10 day mission trip to Honduras to assist those who are less fortunate. We will be visiting hospitals, giving out clothing, delivering food and building homes for families.

I know this will be a glorious experience for me, but more important, I believe it will be an exceptional opportunity for Lauren to learn more about those who are less fortunate than she is AND to draw her closer to the Lord. Words cannot convey my pride when Lauren asked if she could join me on this trip. She has even been joining me in a Spanish class that I offer at the church each week in order to improve her ability to communicate with the Hondurans.

Lauren and I have to raise $3,000 ($1,500 each). This will pay for our airfare, two meals a day and supplies to build homes and feed families. We would be so appreciative of any donation you can make to assist us in our goal of helping others to know the Lord better through our love and our example. Whether you are able to donate or not, we need, more than anything, your prayers for a safe trip and for God's love to shine through us on these precious people.

The enclosed self-addressed, postage-paid envelope is provided for your convenience. Our goal is to have all of our funds raised by June 15th. Please make your check payable to TORCH if you would like to receive a receipt.

Thank you in advance for helping us to help others.

In Christian Love,


(If you would like to assist in this effort, please let me know)