Cheating at Scrabble

I meet with friends each week to play a heated game of Scrabble. We are too feeble-brained to memorize lists of acceptable words so we all consult our Scrabble dictionaries while playing . Although not permitted in tournaments, the official Scrabble rules permit this sort of thing when playing with children (or the memory-challenged). I compiled lists of frequently used words to speed up the game.

Print these out, back to back, using index paper. Have them laminated at your local copy store. Present them at your next Scrabble game. Bask in the glow of your fellow players gratitude.

Tips:

These make great study sheets if you strictly adhere to the rules.

Log on to the sites below for full sized printable copies.

Scrabble-3-Words-Column

Scrabble-2-Letter-Words

Kaleidoscope Images

I'm always looking for interesting things to do with my photographs so I came up with a way to make my images into kaleidoscopes using Photoshop. 

Cut out your image. I like to use the polygonal lasso tool. It's tedious but it does a thorough job.

Unlock the background layer 

Got to SELECT>INVERSE

EDIT>CUT to cut out the background. This should leave a transparent background.

Go to SELECT>DESELECT

Next make a new document by FILE>NEW>NEW FILE. I make mine 10x10" and white.

With the move tool drag your image into the 10x10" document.

Resize the image (if necessary) to occupy only the top half of the 10x10" document and center it vertically.

Duplicate the image and flip it vertically.

Line up the images until you have (in this case) 2 girls joined at the feet.

Merge down to join the 2 images into one.

Duplicate several times and rotate each pair until it resembles the picture above.
To make a picture like the one above:

Begin with the resized and centered image.

Duplicate it and flip it horizontally.

You will have a set of mirrored images.

Merge down to combine as one.

Duplicate and flip vertically to have opposing images.

Merge down.

Follow the instructions above.

To make a picture like this one:

Take the resized and centered image, duplicate, flip horizontally.

With the move tool, tilt each image towards each other.

Follow the above directions.

Tips:

This tutorial assumes you know basic Photoshop. It is easy to learn from videos on YouTube or instructional web sites. Google "Photoshop Tutorials" and be amazed at the vast number of hits.

This is done with basic tools available with GIMP or PICNIK, both free downloads that have many of the same properties as Photoshop.

Clipboard Frames

I needed a way to display my many photos and to be able to change them at will. Clipboards! They may be used as is but for an older look follow the instructions below.
Materials:

clipboard

8x10" frame (only use the glass)

8x10" mat

small nail or screw

Optional:

masking tape

newspaper

fine sandpaper

black spray paint
Sand the clip for better paint adhesion. Mask off the clip with newspaper and tape. Spray and let dry. Lightly sand again for a more vintage look.
I printed my photo in black & white (sepia would be great too). Taped it onto the back of the photo mat and placed it under the glass. I clipped it in place and carefully tapped a nail (I used a black carpet tack) at the bottom to prevent the glass from slipping. 

Tips:

 Be aware that glass in cheap frames may have a greenish tint. It's not noticeable until you group several together and find that some are greenish and some are not. I don't let it bother me as I think it adds to the vintage look. 

Welcome!

Welcome to my brand new blog. What another blog? Do we really need another? I'm sure they exist, but I have not been able to find one like this so I'm writing the blog that I would like to read.  

All I want are instructions on how to make things; things that don't require special skills or expensive materials. Usually, when I find something that meets my requirements, the result resembles a cub scout project*; one that I wouldn't necessarily want to use or give as a gift. 

My mission is to provide instructions that require basic skills, no expensive tools or materials, yet result in professional looking products. 

I will be concentrating on crafts but may wander into decor and food once in a while. I'll throw in an occasional surprise too just to keep it interesting. 

I'm hoping to blog once a week, with at least one new project.

Enjoy! 

*There is nothing wrong with cub scout projects, in fact I have been a den mother. I just want to "kick it up a notch".