This month they’ll help you explore how you give of your time and money, inspiring a generous spirit in yourself and your family, positive self care vs. selfishness, and the big and small gestures that create connection in your life.

Here are two GENEROSITY-themed LOs from SFTIO’s DT Coordinator, Nancy Doren, that were created using the kit:

Scrapbooking from the Inside Out’s industry-exclusive content will help you explore your inner world with a music playlist, journaling prompts, moving photos, inspiring quotes, and meaningful monthly challenges.

To enter to win one of these great kits, repost this post on your blog and link it back to Scrapbook Trends, then give us a link to your blog post in the comment section of this post, and you could be exploring what GENEROSITY means to you!

Want to enter to win? Visit Here for the Details

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To help you here is a fun video from DPS (www.digital-photography-school.com) and a link to a some great tips for taking stop motion videos!

G check out DPS and their tips for Stop Motion Videos

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I stopped by Scraps of Mind (http://www.scrapsofmind.com) and read a great article about reusing my old paper layouts to create sketches for new layouts!  Not only will this work for your paper scrapping, but also for inspiration for digi layouts too!  To read the full article, click here

Next up on my search for quality scrapping blogs I found DigiFree (http://digifree.blogspot.com).  They offer links to some great FREE digital products!  Now I am a sucker for free stuff, and since I am just starting out with Digi Scrappin’ I love finding kits, templates and individual items I can use to try out.  You can find DigiFree here.

Last of my noteworthy sites this week is Scrapscene.  They bost the “Who’s Who” in scrapbooking and I did find they had some really inspiring  tutorials!  You can get your scrap on here.

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Summary:

Turn Your Photos Into Cash is a home study course about making money online through digital photography. Written for anyone who can use a digital camera, the course focuses on selling digital photography through stock photo sites on the Internet. The text and video formats allow different types of learners to make the most of the course.

Product Details:

Turn Your Photos Into Cash – The main course is a 129-page Ebook with the following chapters:

- Introduction
- Jumpstart Your Career
- Before You Begin
- Four Ways to Make Money with Your Digital Photos
- Five Secrets to Making More Money with Your Stock Photos
- Tips and Tricks for Taking Better Photos
- Tips and Tricks for Enhancing Your Photos

The product also comes with the following bonuses:

1. Offline Opportunities Report – A 34-page special report about offline ways to make money with digital photography

2. Slash Your Learning Curve Using These Five Checklists – Detailed checklists or cheat sheets guide the user through the essential points of the course. The checklists are:

- What You Need to Make Money Online with Your Digital Photos
- The Legalities of Digital Photography
- How to Protect Your Photography
- How to Take Better Photos
- How to Improve Your Image Editing

3. Five Action Steps Guides – Step-by-step guide to make money through specific websites. The guides are:
- How to Make Money with iStockphoto
- How to Make Money with Stockxpert
- How to Make Money with CafePress
- How to Find Freelance Projects with Elance
- How to Make Money with Break.com

4. Turn Your Photos Into Cash Mind Maps – Excellent for visual learners, the mind maps allow the user to grasp the strategies at a glance. The mind maps offer an excellent overview of the course, and can be used to refresh the lessons in the user’s mind. The 8 mind maps are:

- Complete Mind Map
- Introduction
- Jump Start Your Career
- Before You Begin
- Four Ways to Make Money
- Five Secrets to Making More Money
- Tips for Enhancing Photos
- Tips for Taking Better Photos

5. Turn Your Photos Into Cash Video – This is the complete home study course in either video or audio-only formats.

Format:

The main course and first four bonuses are digital text files in the form of PDF. The videos are in digital Flash format. These can be either viewed online or downloaded into the user’s hard drive. The audio version of the course is in mp3 format, which can be loaded into any mp3 player.

Thoughts on the Product:

Turn Your Photos Into Cash was created for anybody who knows how to use a digital camera and has access to a computer with Internet connection. One does not have to be a professional photographer to understand and benefit from the course. While it briefly discusses the technical issues of digital photography, the course really isn’t about how to take digital photographs. It is about how to sell those photographs online and make money.

The course presents these marketing strategies in easy to understand language. Even complete newbies or amateur digital photographers will not be overwhelmed or intimidated. The strategies don’t take a lot of time or energy to implement. The bonus cheat sheets, step-by-step guides and mindmaps make it even easier to actually take action and simply jump into making money with digital photography.

The video and audio formats will appeal to visual and auditory learners. That you can load the lessons into your mp3 player and listen to them on the go is a definite plus.

Digital photography is a little-known work at home business model, particularly among those who are not professional photographers. With Turn Your Photos Into Cash, however, even amateur photographers with a little time and motivation can soon be making money with their photographs.

Where to Learn More:

Turn Your Photos Into Cash and pick up a free report on how to start earning from digital photography.

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Summary: The Your Guide to Digital Photography by Dan Feildman is a downloadable guide for digital photography beginners and those looking for better results from their digital photography.

Product Details: There are a number of components to this learning product including ?

- Your Guide to Digital Photography – a 75-page guide that includes a variety of tips and advice for the beginner to advanced photographer. Some of the topics are:

- Taking your first pictures
- Different kinds of digital cameras
- Professional technology at affordable prices
- Finding the right low end digital camera for those on a budget
- Exposing digital photography myths.
- Understanding the features of your digital camera
- Tips for taking better digital pictures
- Pet photo tips
- Night photo tips
- Horizons and sunglasses
- How to share your digital pictures
- Printing your pictures
- Choosing a printer for you digital images
- Editing your photos.
- Understanding white balance so your photos look good in all lighting.
- Interpolation and digital zoom to improve detailing in pictures
- Finding free photo editors for your Windows computer
- Using your flash effectively
- Understanding and making the most of your memory cards
- Important equipment to take when traveling.
- Battery options and your best bets.
- Making money from your digital photography hobby.

- Photography Quick Tips ? 37 pages showing you how to make the most of your pictures. It includes practical tips for:

- Night photography
- Action photography
- Landscapes
- Sunsets and sunrises
- Beach photography
- Desert photography
- Sports photography
- People and pets
- Street photography
- Fog & Mist
- Waterfalls & Running Water
- Rain & Snow
- Fireworks

- Picasa Tutorials ? There are 8 video tutorials (you can view them online or download them to your computer) to show you how to use the free Picasa software to organize, edit, create and share your photos. The videos include:

- Downloading and installing the program
- Editing photos with Picasa
- Creating collages
- Blogging with Picasa
- Backing up your photos
- Printing your photos
- Posting pictures to your web album

- Your Top Digital Photography Questions Answered ? This 26 page guide answers 20 common questions about digital photography including:

- What is the biggest mistake made by beginning digital photographers?
- How to decide on the right digital camera.
- How to decide is a picture is worth taking.
- How to get the white balance right.
- How to take clear shots for indoor sports.
- Advantages/disadvantages of raw vs. Jpeg format photographs.
- What are the best settings for low light/nighttime conditions?
- What is hyperfocal distance?
- How to take a photo of a glass sign or a framed picture in glass
- How to get high contrast natural light black and white pictures.
- Time lag from the time you take a picture until it is on the memory card.
- How to avoid redeye in dim light.
- Small object close up pictures.
- How to photograph gemstones and jewelry.
- How to take a picture with both strong sun and shade.
- Capturing personality in photos of people.
- How can I understand depth of field?
- Settings and techniques for photographing birds and wildlife.
- How to take pictures into the sun and avoid lens flare.
- How to take good pictures in the snow or on the beach.

- Buying a Digital Camera Video ? This video shows you how to use the Internet to conduct research from unbiased sources.

- An Experiment in Photography. What Exactly Happens When You Change the Settings on Your Digital Camera?” ? This 12 page guide shows photos of the same object (a house, in this case) with different camera settings resulting in very different photos.

- Secrets of Night Photography ? A quick 6-page guide with concise advice about nighttime photography. It includes information on:

- Trails of Light (Cars)
- Trails of Light (Stars)
- Weather and Exposure
- Horizons and Sunglasses
- Tripods
- Low Cost Filtering

Format:

The main guide is a PDF ebook. There are extra guides (PDF) and videos (free Flash & Shockwave required). If you’re not sure how to use these files, don’t worry, all the download information is carefully explained and any software you may need is free and safe to download.

Thoughts on the Product:

This package covers a lot of ground on the topic of digital photography. All of the advice is very step-by-step and detailed, but doesn’t include unnecessary filler. Even for someone who has never used a digital camera before, the information is clear and concise enough to take that person from buying a camera to taking their first shots and being proud of their work.

The product can be downloaded instantly upon purchase, so you don’t have to wait for a bunch of books and videos to come in the mail. For those who are new to online downloads, full instructions are included.

Where to Learn More: Learn Digital Photography Now Website and get a free report to get you started with digital photography.

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Summary:

Learn Elements Now is a set of 30 tutorial videos on how to use Photoshop Elements. It covers the most basic tasks in Photoshop Elements to the more advanced.

Product Details:

The product consists of these 30 tutorials:

- Interface
- Opening an Image
- Guided Edit
- Quick Edit
- Full Edit
- Create Overview
- Share Overview
- Zoom and Pan
- Layers
- Blend Modes
- Undo History
- Brush Tool
- Selecting Colors
- Gradient Tool
- Creating Text
- Selection Tools
- Quick Selection Tools
- Refine Edges
- Effects
- Adjustment Layers
- Resizing Images
- Aligning Images
- Saving Your Photo
- Saving for the Web
- Remove Red Eye
- Remove Blemishes
- Remove Objects
- Convert to Black & White
- Color Curves
- Create a Panorama

The course also includes the following bonuses:

- Video tutorial images: All the images used in the video tutorials are provided in JPG format so the user can follow along with the very same images.

- Absolute Beginners Guide to Photoshop Elements: a 65-page easy-to-use guide to Photoshop Elements

- 30-day free trial of the latest version of Adobe Elements

Format:

The video tutorials are in Flash and Shockwave format, which can be either viewed online or downloaded into the user’s hard drive for local viewing. Downloading is not necessary, as the videos will always be available to those who purchase the course.

The tutorial images are in digital graphic JPG format.

The bonus, Absolute Beginners Guide to Photoshop Elements is in PDF format.

Thoughts on the Product:

Learn Elements Now is a good example of how to use video to teach skills. In this case, the video tutorials give step-by-step demonstrations of how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements. The instructions are clear and are easy to understand through both the voice-over and onscreen demos. The videos progress logically from the most basic to the more advanced operations that can be done in Elements.

Each video is only a few minutes long and clearly labeled, so the users can easily and quickly choose the video they need. I’m not sure the user will learn Photoshop Elements in 2 hours, as David Peters promises – especially if one follows along each step using the images provided – which is the best way to internalize the lessons in the videos. But it definitely will not take more than 2 hours to view all the tutorials.

With Learn Elements Now, even complete newbies to image editing will soon be able to create impressive digital photos using Photoshop Elements.

Where to Learn More:

LearnElementsNow.com

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Summary:

Photoshop Fast Track for Digital Photographers is a collection of 22 videos, which demonstrate how to edit digital photos using Photoshop. Each video is a step-by-step tutorial of the most common image editing tasks in Photoshop.

Product Details:

The main product is a set of 34 instructional videos. These include 12 video tutorials for Photoshop, from Photoshop 7 through to the later versions bundled with Creative Suite products (CS2 and CS3). Most of the videos are less than 5 minutes long. The longest video is 12 minutes and 48 seconds.

The topics for Photoshop 7 through CS2 are:

- Change Eye Color
- Change Hair Color
- Fix Underexposed Photos
- More Punch Photo
- Instant Tan
- Panoramic
- Double Chin
- Remove Red Eye
- Remove Spots and Blemishes
- Remove Unwanted Objects
- Remove Wrinkles
- Whiten Teeth

The topics for CS3 are:
- Batch Rename
- Batch Resize
- Change Hair Color
- Double Chin
- Eye Color
- Instant Tan
- Look Funny
- Look Slimmer
- More Punch Photo
- Photomontage
- Red Eye Removal
- Remove Spots and Blemishes
- Remove Unwanted Objects
- Remove Wrinkles
- Replace Backgrounds
- Selective Color
- Smooth Skin
- Soft Romantic
- Straighten Image
- Fix Underexposed Photos
- Whiten Teeth

Photoshop Fast Track for Digital Photographers also includes the following bonuses:

- Video tutorial images: These are the exact same images edited in the videos. The customer can work on the same images and practice the skills each video demonstrates.

- Flickr tutorials: A step-by-step guide on how digital photographers can make the most of this free site to share (and show off) your photos. There are 14 videos on Flickr alone.

Format: Online video in both Flash and Shockwave formats, which can be viewed online and downloaded into the user’s hard drive The tutorial images are digital image files (JPG).

The Flickr tutorial is in online video format as well.

Thoughts on the Product:

Whether you edit digital photos for fun or for work, these video tutorials will make the tasks much easier.

Photoshop is a powerful graphic editor, but the learning curve can be pretty steep. You could spend hours learning everything yourself, or pay for a class. Or, you could watch these videos and learn the most common digital photo editing tasks at your own pace.

Video demonstration is an excellent way of learning a complicated software such as Photoshop. It’s like looking over the shoulder of an instructor – but one that you can pause, rewind or fast forward as needed.

The best way to use these videos is to have Photoshop open in another window, pause the video to complete each of the steps demonstrated, and then compare your final result with that of the video. Because the
tutorial images are included, this is easy for users to do. You get instant feedback and practice.

The tutorials are for different versions of Photoshop, from Photoshop 7 to CS3.

Where to Learn More: href=”http://www.edityourdigitalphotos.com/a.php?a=wahmwebs”>EditYourDigitalPhotos.com

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Summary:

This is a set of videos, which demonstrate the many features of Photoshop. The tutorials demonstrate Photoshop as well as newer versions that have been integrated with Creative Suite (CS) products, from CS2 to CS4.

The video tutorials include:
- The Workspace
- Selections
- Painting and Drawing
- Resizing Images
- Image and Color Modes
- Layers
- Creating Text
- Layer Styles and Effects
- Photo Retouching
- Saving Images
- Tips and Tricks… “Removing Red Eye”
- Tips and Tricks… “Photo Merging”
- Tips and Tricks… “Lighting Effects”
- Tips and Tricks… “Photo Framing”

Additional videos for CS2 updates:
- Adobe Bridge
- Image Warp
- Layers: Refined
- Lens Correction
- Red Eye Tool
- Smart Objects
- Spot Healing

Additional videos for CS3 updates:
- Auto Align
- Auto Blend
- Black and White
- New Blend Modes
- Brightness and Contrast
- Bridge CS3
- Clone Source
- Curves
- Interface
- Photomerge
- Quick Select Tool
- Refine Edges
- Smart Filters

Additional videos for CS4 updates:
- Adjustments Panel
- Bridge 3
- Content Aware Scaling
- Dodge and Burn
- Drag and Drop in Tabs
- Extending DOF
- Masks Panel
- Panels in CS4
- Tabbed Interface
- Target Adjustment Tool
- Web and PDF

Also included are several bonuses:

- Ecover Magic (Adobe Action Scripts): Action scripts to create ecovers for eBooks, software boxes, CDs, DVDs, membership cards and many more. The scripts work with Adobe Photoshop version 6.0 or higher.

- A Guide to Digital Photography: An eBook, which covers the basics of digital photography,

- The Handy Color Schemer: An easy-to-use software that helps users choose coordinating colors for websites, logos, images, and others.

- Picture Gallery Maker: A software that enables the user to create web pages with pictures galleries on them. It’s simple to use and includes six templates, although users can also create their own templates.

- Bonus articles on Photoshop, design, and other related topics: A total of 86 bonus articles are included. The articles cover various topics of interest to designers and digital photographers.

- Unadvertised Bonus: As a special bonus, buyers also get 109 additional video tutorials. These include: 27 tutorials with additional training in Adobe Photoshop CS; 20 tutorials on Photoshop CS2; 37 tutorials on Photoshop Elements; 10 tutorials on maximizing your digital camera; and, 15 tutorials about ImageReady CS.

Product Details:

The videos are in digital format (Flash and Shockwave) and can be either viewed online or downloaded into the customer’s hard drive.

Format:

Digital video, compatible with both PC and Mac
PDF transcripts of the tutorials

Thoughts on the Product:

Video is the best way to learn how to use software, in particular, a graphic editing software such as Photoshop. The tutorials begin with the most basic topic (e.g., “The Workspace”), and progress to the most complicated (e.g., “Lighting Effects” for the Fast-Track set).

Each tutorial is only a few minutes long. The presentor is clear and demonstrates each step of the process. Learning is fast and easy when you can see the results of each step right away!

The best way to go through the videos is to have your own copy of Photoshop open at the same time, pause the video, do the same step yourself, and see if you achieve the same results.

Even the most uninitiated Photoshop user should be able to follow along without difficulty. Finally, the PDF transcripts come in handy for quick reviews of the lessons.

Where to Learn More: LearnPhotoshopNow.com

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When the idea of scrapbooking has hit your thoughts, you tend to look over several sources such as magazines, print ads, newspapers, journals, and of course some internet websites. These sources nevertheless give you a clear picture of what your finished product will exactly reflect about.

They also provide you with insights on how to start your project, what materials will be worthy to use, and how to go on with the steps of scrapbooking. You may have also heard of your friends talking about what they do with their scrapbooks or the photographer during your wedding had talked about keeping these photos in such an impressive manner. In this case, you might want to explore the thing for yourself.

You may not be a professional photographer and it may be your first time to deal with scrapbooking. Are you a little afraid? Better not be. There are a lot of scrapbooking websites that can help you out with your plan. So what will really add flavor to your scrapbook? What things will accentuate your photos? How will you deal with the steps of creating a scrapbook?

Getting Started

Thinking about how you would start can go on for days. After all, the hardest part in scrapbooking is conceptualizing the layout and the design that you prefer to employ. But then after such considerations have finally been thought of, you can now go forward into thinking about the scrapbook products which you will utilize. In all of these dilemmas, the scrapbooking websites that you will consult can provide you with the most needed help and advices you seek.

Behind a greatly made scrapbook is the load of quintessential scrapbooking supplies which have been artistically mixed and matched. Without these scrapbooking supplies, there will be nothing to cherish in a scrapbook, so to speak. Personally, the scrapbooking supplies which are sold by many online stores can take your breath away. They come available in several colors, designs, shapes and sizes of many kinds. When scrapbooking is all you’ve got in mind, you simply have to choose and decide on which scrapbooking supplies to make use of. After all, it is only you who know what kind of output you expect.

So the theme of your scrapbook will be your wedding day. Choose the colors that will suit your theme and the clothing posed by the people in the pictures. The combination of all the colors of the material must complement the colors contained in the photos.

The most basic colors that suit the wedding theme will be gold, silver, and white. But of course you can always change them as you prefer it. After dealing with the colors, get it on with the content. In the very first page you can paste the wedding invitation so that the storytelling can be started with. The rest of the photos will follow in the succeeding pages.

Remember to make use of appealing borders and embellishments. However, the scrapbook may or may not contain all those wedding pictures. You can just choose which you would like to include. But then an exception comes in when you prefer the wedding memorabilia to be presented in a scrapbook manner.

Scrapbooking Websites in Action

Online surfing for scrapbooking ideas is a very much acclaimed step by many people. By simply visiting scrapbooking websites, you will come across with the bunch of ready-made layouts and sample of contents for your scrapbook. You may likewise print them is the scrapbooking website allow it. If you know how to maximize the capacity of your computer and your internet, you surely can find hundreds of valuable ideas from scrapbooking websites. After all, they serve such purpose.

Scrapbooking websites are also tutorial websites that instruct you about which materials can be easily crafted into a great scrapbook product, what simple steps may be followed by beginners, what designs would be trendy, and many more.

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