Plum Scrappy About Choosing Colors

Posted by PChip | Published in: Designing | (4) Comments-Add Yours!

Inspiration can come from anywhere and color is one of the most popular places we look.   When I was challenged with coming up with a new color scheme of my own for a Vintage kit I was working on recently, I went searching for a new color scheme.  Today I’m sharing with you a few goodies I found that I thought you might find helpful when working through your colorful work projects too.

Go Non-Traditional Sometimes!

Laura Arellano-Weddleton wrote an article way back in 2005 at ScrapJazzthat offers a few terrific ideas of alternative color schemes to use on your holiday pages.  The information she shares is still very relevant today!  Since so many folks have just developed and downloaded their holiday pictures, now might be the perfect time for you to pass these ideas along to your customers and scrappy friends too.

Laura’s not the only one to share her theories on color over at ScrapJazz.  There are plenty others to choose from and you can access them easily by running a searching their website using the term “color scheme,” like I did.  Check out the results of the search here.

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This article was posted by PChip published in: Designing
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What’s Up with Paint Chip

Posted by PChip | Published in: General Info | (2) Comments-Add Yours!

Here’s some info about what’s happening in my little world:
After coming back from my holidays and the hiatus I took from my computer and never-ending phone calls, I sat to ponder the happenings of 2007 and the yearnings for 2008. I’m not one to keep new years resolutions so I’m not bothering to make any. However I do tend to keep goals in front of me and strive to meet them.

Not that I always achieve my goals, mind you. But I do use them as a road map and as incentives to help me keep on a somewhat straight path to my successes. Yes, this same path has had several stumbling blocks and what I think of as learning moments and opportunities for change and improvement.

Things Sometimes in My Way

One area that has been a continual challenge to me is my battle with chronic migraine disease and how I manage my time and energy daily. Anyone who deals with a chronic ailment can tell you how it can totally disrupt their life. Careers so often go by the wayside because of the many problems associated with such unfortunate things.

Through the years my doctors and I have tried many different things to help minimize the episodes and the constant pain. Last year we found a treatment that helped a lot. However, we knew this was possibly a temporary improvement. We knew that the noticeable improvements in my level of energy and the capabilities I can gained back could and most likely would eventually come to a screechy halt again at some point. This in spite of the many positive thoughts and strong mental attitude I generate towards improvement.

So It Shall Be

My migraines have begun to increase again both in frequency and intensity. Also - my last treatment was delayed and won’t be accomplished for another week or two, which always makes things even worse. After again looking internally for strength and understanding, I’ve finally accepted that my health will always hinder my ability to accomplish all that I want to do and that slowing down is the only way for me to keep my mind and spirit in balance.

What to Do – What to Do?

This isn’t the first time I’ve had to step back and take life easy for a spell and it surely won’t be the last. However, I really hate when it happens. But I’m a realist and accept this as part of the cards I was dealt to play with in this life. I’m again finding myself questioning what steps I can take and the things I can do to continue working and leading a productive life while dealing with this stupid, stupid disease and all the issues that come along with it.

I’m not ready to retire from my current job yet and when I do it is with intentions of working at my leisure when my body will allow and still be bringing in a steady income. The part of my portfolio that my online business fits into is what is helping me realize that goal.

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This article was posted by PChip published in: General Info
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Product Review of The GIMP for Professional Digi-Scrapping

Posted by PChip | Published in: Reviews | (8) Comments-Add Yours!

When trying to start up a business it’s always important to have an attack plan, set a budget, and stick to both as best you can while at the same time remaining flexible enough to make changes to both as the need becomes apparent. I can really vouch for this as I’ve been having health issues that have set me back on my business plan activities. I’m at a point where I’m stuck with re-evaluating major parts of my business. Members of our Networking community can read more about that this week in our forums.

While the activities portion of my business is changing, I’m very lucky in that my budget hasn’t been affected at all. Thankfully - money wise, I’m a little ahead of the game! However, that isn’t the case for every digital scrap professional. Many have a very tight budget and have to make the most of their every penny. One of the areas where scrappers often ask about cutting costs is in their choice of software products. The questions usually revert to peers asking how product quality is affected if they use free or open source product to meet their business needs.

Starting Out on a Shoe String Budget

There are free to use products available in just about every area of the digi-scrap business you can think of. From newsletter services, list maintainers, blogging platforms, online store software, community forum products as well as software for designing and delivering digi-scrap products.

It’s been my experience that some open source products have too many limitations to warrant using them constantly or as a mainstay product in the business. Some have security issues that concern me as well. However, there are plenty that offer us more. With some savvy tech expertise, practice, good documentation, and knowledge of the products, they each seem to offer viable options. There are several products that can help you really stretch your business dollars further and run a successful digi-scrap business if you use them wisely!

GIMP for Designing

One such open source software product is GIMP. This product can be used by digi-scrap designers to create digi-art as well as for creating layouts and other digital products for clients and your own family memories. I have not used this product myself. However, Norma Aguilera from Scrapbooks gone Digital is an avid user of this product and provides digi-art and training services to scrapbook hobbyists and professionals alike.

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This article was posted by PChip published in: Reviews
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