Do you love making fast easy cuts with your Cricut machine? If so, you will love the Cricut Gypsy. This device is for artists on the go who want to create interesting and unique designs and still maintain their active life style.

Held up at the doctor’s office, or waiting for your dinner companion? Now waiting is a breeze: just break out the portable Cricut Gypsy accessories and device and you are on your way to creating beautiful crafts on the go.

What is the Cricut Gypsy? The Gypsy works with the Cricut machine to cut out letters, numbers, and shapes quickly and accurately. This eliminates hand cutting that is normally done by many crafters. The Gypsy is a handheld device that allows you to create a multitude of letters, numbers and shapes on a mat. The total design can be viewed before cutting begins and multiple shapes can be placed on the cutting area. This will drastically save paper and is better for the environment and the wallet.  Once you have decided on your design, just send the project to your Cricut machine and it will cut out your design in a snap.

The Cricut gypsy accessories are a fun way to brighten up your machine. There are several silicone sleeves available to keep your device safe and fashionable. Easy to change, they come in a multitude of colors and patterns. There is a little something for everyone, fun and funky, or sophisticated and sleek. The choice is yours. Other accessories may include a cricut gypsy clutch to keep your Gypsy close to you wherever you go.  Another great travel option is the travel case. Its sleek black design makes it easy to carry and will corresponds to any outfit. There are also several stylus colors to choose from to let your own personal style shine through as well as page protectors to keep your screen scratch free.

True to its form of being a portable easy to use device, the Cricut Gypsy also has an optional car charger, so it can be used and charged from almost anywhere.  Now you can use your Gypsy whenever you have a free moment. It also offers and AC Power supply so you can sit at home and relax while creating awesome templates. No matter where you are or what you are designing, the Cricut Gypsy accessories are sure to make your design experience easy.

If you are an avid scrapbooker, card maker, or like to create other crafts from paper, the Cricut Gypsy is a great tool. It’s easy to carry and numerous accessories make it a great product. It is a true time saver that allows users to sneak in an enjoyable hobby during an otherwise hectic day. You can use this handy device anytime there is a free moment. Avoid the frustration of long waits and delays. Users will be wishing for delays once they start using this product. They numerous Cricut gypsy accessories available make it an easy product to enjoy and use.

Being in the military is a lifestyle all its own. You might be a service personnel or the parent, spouse or child of someone in the armed forces. The military life touches everyone who loves someone serving in any one of the service branches whether it is the Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force, or National Guard. Military scrapbooking ideas all start with how the military life affects you.

Scrapbooking Ideas for Military Personnel

As a member of the armed forces, you will want to preserve and document your military experience. Recording your memories of your service years is important not only for yourself, but also for your children and future generations. Your years in the service are not only personal, but they document our national history as well. You might have served in a war or responded to a national crisis. Preserving your memories of those experiences will tell others your first-person account of a moment in history.

Items to Include In Your Military Scrapbook

• Your service documents including your enlistment application
• Newspaper articles
• Photos of you receiving recognition
• Photos of returning home from a duty station
• Photos of your military friends
• Photos of your service stations
• A time line of your years in service, including where and when you served
• Pages or quotes from your personal journal, including your hopes, fears, and thoughts
• Information on the training you received, including when and where you received training
• Photos of boot camp, including your graduation
• Awards and recognition with journaling on how, when and why you received them
• Photos of your metals and ribbons including how, when and why you received these honors
• Highlights of your military career
• Photos of ceremonies you participated in
• Your retirement party

Scrapbooking for Family Members of Military Personnel

Is someone you love in the armed forces? You may want to document their military career for them, or create a scrapbook about how that person's military life affected you. Being the spouse, child or parent of someone in the military, you will have your own thoughts, fears, feelings and hopes about his/her military life. Your scrapbook can be a gift for the military personnel or for someone else in their family, like a son or daughter. It also can be an account of how military life affected your own life experiences.

Items for Family Members to Include in a Military Scrapbook

• Photos of you with your loved one in the service
• Farewell photos
• Homecoming photos
• Journaling of your feelings about being part of a military family
• Moving day photos from one service station community to another
• Letters or emails written from your loved one in the armed forces
• Photos of military family events like picnics or formal parties
• Newspaper articles

Scrapbooking companies are responding to the huge demand for military scrapbooking supplies. You can find albums with armed forces emblems on the cover. Stickers and embellishments relating to the military service are also available. However, it's your own personal photos and journaling that will create a military scrapbook that will become a legacy to future generations.

Christine Perry is an avid scrapbooker and has over 10 years of scrapbooking experience. Her favorite scrapbooking subjects are her reluctant teenagers. She invites you to her website, http://www.intoscrapbooking.com for more scrapbooking ideas and scrapbooking ideas with kids.

Many of us have friends and family serving our country, and what better way to preserve their memories than some special military scrapbook pages.

Last week I asked my subscribers what they'd do if they won a $10 Amazon.com Gift Certificate

Here are some of the most wished for items: some said they'd buy one item, but many says they'd use the $10 towards a larger item. Check out this list and see if you knew about all these scrapbooking supplies. And find out if you are the winner of the $10 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com

EK Success EKCB06 Honey Bee Non-Stick Craft Scissors	Copic Ciao Markers, Buttercup Yellow
Fiskars 12-23417097 Border Punch, Diamond	Blue Hills Studio Storage Cart with 10 Drawers, 13-Inch by 38-Inch by 15-1/2-Inch, Multi-Color
Fiskars 12 Inch Ultimate Craft Trimmer	Copic Ciao Primary Colors + 1 inking pen
EK 54-70002 PSN C Starry Night	Xyron 500 5 Inch by 18 Inch Sticker Machine, Permanent
Fiskars 9698 Euro 12-Inch Portable Paper Trimmer	Ranger Heat It Craft Tool

The winner of the $10 Gift Certificate is Mia Brown: Mia, email me your address so I can send you this gift certificate. If you didn't win this time, don't worry: we'll have some fun again soon. Just stop by often and watch your email to find out what's going on here.

As any avid scrapbooker knows, paper storage can be a real problem. Especially since many individuals that enjoy this craft will pick up papers on a whim. If there is a great page, accessory, sticker, or other item that catches the eye, most won’t think twice about picking it up. This happens even when there is no idea how the page will be used. This is because many times pages are only available temporarily and good paper may not be there when you are ready to use it.

By stocking up on supplies ahead of time, it makes scrapbooking easier and quicker. Whenever the individual is ready to work, they have all the supplies they need and don’t have to run out and look for them. The problem is with trying to store all these items.

Scrapbook paper storage can be difficult, especially since many scrapbooks come in squares such as 8X8 or 12X12. This makes traditional paper storing methods impossible. However, with the right tools and accessories, these pages can be stored safely without ruining them. One option for storage is wall mounted shelves. These are similar to the shelves found in many craft stores that display the paper right on the wall. This is ideal if you have a room or area that is dedicated to the craft. However, these papers will still be exposed to light, moisture, and other elements.

Other scrapbook paper storage options include accordion style file folders. These folders stretch open to allow easy storage without ripping or tearing the paper. They are found in many craft stores and can store up to 500 sheets of paper. Then they can be stored neatly on a desk or bookshelf, under the bed, or in any nook or cranny you can fit it. Since they buckle shut there is no worry that they will spill out. They can also be used to store embellishments, cutouts, card stock, and other paper items in one easy convenient location.

Another fantastic option is using plastic paper organizers. These are similar to page protectors that are used in binders. While they don’t clip into a binder, these protectors are great for placing papers and then storing them on a shelf. For those that like to purchase packs of theme pages, the paper organizers offer an area to place labels. These are a fantastic option to protect the paper, save space, and organize the paper for ease of use.  Placed within easy reach of the project area, these can cut down on time.

Nothing is worse than looking for the perfect paper to compliment your theme and finding out it is ripped or torn. That is why scrapbook paper storage is so important. Square sheets of paper can be difficult to store but there are options available. Now pages can be organized easily so that they can be found quickly and used when they are needed. With label options there is no need to peruse several folders or cabinets for one sheet. Just place like themes in the organizer together, label, and then finding them is a snap.

The best way to do this is to create a great cover that will protect all of your special memories for a long time to come. In addition to the cover you will want to follow the proper preservation techniques to keep your scrapbook and its cover in good condition for many years.
When it comes to covers for your scrapbook, there are different types to choose from. For example, you can make a cloth covering for your scrapbook which is a bit like placing it inside a cloth bag that you have specially decorated for the theme of the scrapbook.

You can make this yourself by measuring out cloth in the size to fit your scrapbook and then sewing it together, leaving an opening for your scrapbook to fit inside. You can make flaps that will hold onto the scrapbook cover and hold the sides together.

Another option for your scrapbook cover is a clear plastic cover. These are easy to buy or make and they can fit right over your scrapbook to protect it from dents, dust and more. You won’t have to hem a plastic cover which also makes them quicker and easier to use and they can be decorated on the outside as well if you want.

Here are some additional tips for protecting your scrapbook cover:

• Store your scrapbook sitting up instead of lying down
• Never stack things on top of your scrapbook
• Store your scrapbook in a safe place away from sharp items that can scratch it
• Don’t leave your scrapbook out when it is not in use
• Consider storing your scrapbooks in a fireproof safe so they will always remain in good condition

With these tips you can protect your scrapbook cover to help keep your scrapbook in good condition.

One of the most important parts of a scrapbook is your scrapbook cover. This is an opportunity to show your scrapbook theme right on the front and also to add things that may not have fit in the inside décor of the scrapbook. You may spend a great deal of time working on your scrapbook and you want to keep it in good condition for many years to come.

The best way to do this is to create a great cover that will protect all of your special memories for a long time to come. In addition to the cover you will want to follow the proper preservation techniques to keep your scrapbook and its cover in good condition for many years.

When it comes to covers for your scrapbook, there are different types to choose from. For example, you can make a cloth covering for your scrapbook which is a bit like placing it inside a cloth bag that you have specially decorated for the theme of the scrapbook.

You can make this yourself by measuring out cloth in the size to fit your scrapbook and then sewing it together, leaving an opening for your scrapbook to fit inside. You can make flaps that will hold onto the scrapbook cover and hold the sides together.

Another option for your scrapbook cover is a clear plastic cover. These are easy to buy or make and they can fit right over your scrapbook to protect it from dents, dust and more. You won’t have to hem a plastic cover which also makes them quicker and easier to use and they can be decorated on the outside as well if you want.

Here are some additional tips for protecting your scrapbook cover:

• Store your scrapbook sitting up instead of lying down
• Never stack things on top of your scrapbook
• Store your scrapbook in a safe place away from sharp items that can scratch it
• Don’t leave your scrapbook out when it is not in use
• Consider storing your scrapbooks in a fireproof safe so they will always remain in good condition

With these tips you can protect your scrapbook cover to help keep your scrapbook in good condition.
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Here are some page protectors currently on eBay. Click on the images for more details.
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Scrapbooking in the digital age: Traditionally, materials used for scrapbooking include those found in arts and crafts shops such as various papers, scrapbooking scissors, glues, ribbons, and the Cricut machine. However, with the advancements in technology, more and more options are becoming available for scrapbooking in the digital age. One of these is printable scrapbooking supplies, which are found in hundreds of online sites and scrapbooking communities. Offering thousands of designs and motifs to choose from, a novice in scrapbooking can already start professional looking projects through these new materials.

Free online resources: To begin you journey through printable scrapbooking materials, visit the web and download your chosen design. Money should not be a hindrance because many sites provide designs for free. There are many themes to choose from, ranging from layouts suited for Christmas, Valentines Day, Hanukkah, or even your daughter's debut. Check out the download and printing instructions found on these sites; saving them to your computer. Print according to the instructions using acid-free paper. Do not be afraid to experiment with textured and colored papers, because these can add to the over-all aesthetic appeal of the product.

Print safely: Also keep in mind the type of ink which you will use to print your designs. Some are water-based and may blot out or dilute when stored in damp places. For long-lasting print-outs, use high-quality inks and printers that can handle archival papers of different thicknesses. You can also use page protectors to prevent sensitive inks from smudging. Always remember to let the pages dry completely before placing in your scrapbook, as some older printer models leave partially wet pages that need a few minutes to dry.

Experiment: Once you have the printed material, use acid-free and photo-safe glues to attach them to you scrapbook album. Begin decorating as usual, and add embellishments according to your project goals. The range of printable scrapbooking materials available are many, which means you can even download the actual embellishments, numbers, designs, frames, and other scrapbooking elements from the internet. Some experts in printable scrapbooking media can even compose scrapbooks made purely out of these materials. However, for maximum creativity, incorporate other textured elements as well for a multi-dimensional appeal.

Edit designs with software: Another benefit with printable scrapbooking materials is that they can be tailored to suit your particular needs. Some of the designs available on the internet can be modified by scrapbook artists who also know how to use software such as Photoshop and other imaged editing programs. You can actually incorporate multiple elements in one design, and even create your own unique embellishments by repeating a single motif to create a whole new pattern. Remember, with the many possibilities offered by computers, the modern scrapbooker has endless designs to explore.

Album: A number of arts and crafts shops offer albums that come in various sizes. The standard sizes are the 12x12 inch and the 8.5x11 inch album. From these two main sizes alone you already have a lot of options to choose from. Look for hardbound albums made of acid-free paper to ensure that its contents will last a long time. There are also different covers to choose from. Depending on whatever scrapbooking design you have in mind, there are those that have cut covers allowing a peer to the inside pages, while others have locks to keep your scrapbook private.

Artistic papers: Next, choose several types of papers, all of which must be acid-free; this will be important because these will be used not only to hold the various photographs and embellishments which you will use to compose your album, but because these are also the materials the Cricut machine will use to create designs. Make sure that you have a variety of papers to choose from, with differing textures, colors, patterns, and even thicknesses. The more paper options you have the more design possibilities you will end up with.

Scissors: Scissors are also an important part of scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is a craft that involves cutting various materials into different shapes, sizes, and patterns; because you will encounter materials of various hardness and density, be sure that your scrapbooking scissors are strong and sharp. For more advanced scrapbookers, open up more project possibilities by adding patterned scissors to your supply kit. This can be useful in decorating the edges of your pages. A paper cutter that is 12 inches long is also ideal when working with large sheets of paper as well as when using albums not of standard size.

Trinkets and glue: Visit the local arts and crafts shop for a variety of trinkets and creative baubles to add to your pages. There are many to choose from, such as funny strings and wires, as well as ready-to-use flowers and such. To attach these to your pages, use acid-free glue that can handle various materials and is safe to use on photographs.

Cricut machine: Last but not least, a good scrapbook supply kit also has a Cricut machine to give you hundred of patterns, letters, and number designs. These can be bought online if you want to compare prices and choose the best deal. As an advanced tool in your scrapbooking, you may also want a Cricut Expression machine, to help generate Cricut scrapbooking ideas easily. With these scrapbooking essentials, you will find yourself on your way to creating the most exciting scrapbooks for you and your family.

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