Paper Trufflez

Cozy Christmas Tree

Sometimes, it all works out on paper just like it did in the brain.  This was one of those lucky instances!  I could have masked, but, after staring down at the paper for a few minutes, I figured it would probably be just as easy to just stamp the tree right over the stamped window, and then stamp it again on scrap, color it, trim it out, slap it right ovvaaaah the top, yessirreee!  And, it was!

Many others, I'm sure have already thought to draw a "horizon" or, in this case, a "snow" line through the window, but, I felt I struck 2 moments of brilliance in one when that wild and crazy idea drifted into my head.  *chuckle*

Thank you, both for your concern, and for sharing a laugh with me over my "lack of glamor and grace" post from the other day.  No broken bones, and the ego suffered only a few minor bruises.  I seem destined to go through life somewhat of a clutz . . . *wink*   Thankfully, the laptop didn't seem to suffer any damage at all.  WHEW!

So, tell me:  Are you the type that got your holiday cards all done back in July?  You've had all your holiday gifts purchased, and now you just have to concentrate on wrappin' 'em?  Well, congratulations.  You are so organized!

I'm not.  Not by a long shot. In fact, I haven't started ANY of that holiday stuff of my own yet.  I guess I just like living in the moment.  I have an aversion to planning ahead when it comes to the holidays, even tho I know it would probably reduce a lot of stress.

But, I am proud of my Thanksgiving accomplishment.  OK, I shouldn't say "my", because I had a LOT of help from my awesome husband and daughter.

Sidebar:  Last year my stuffing tasted like crap.  CRAP, I tell ya'!  I couldn't figure out why everybody was being so polite about it.  But, this year, it was killaaaaah! 

We had 13 for dinner, both from my and my hubby's families.  We had to cook 2 turkeys, because all the big ones were gone by the time I went shoppin' bird.  But, it worked out just fine. I had won 3 luscious gourmet desserts at an auction earlier in the fall (our local Lions club does fundraisers like this to raise monies for college scholarships), and I'm so glad I won that bid--YEA--muffin top expansion delivered right to my front door, and all in the name of a good cause!  They were so SO yummy!

Good times, and despite how stressed I get hosting things like this, it was gratifying to see everybody genuinely enjoy themselves.  And, we have so much leftover, I look forward to NOT cooking for the next few days!  Yippeeeeeeee!!!  I'm such a domestic goddess, no?!  ROTFLMBO!

Hope your Thanksgiving was blessed with family, friends, and good food!

 

All Stamps, Note Card, Twinkle Stickers by A Muse Artstamps

Continued clarification on linking vs. hotlinking

Paper Trufflez: Continued dialogue: Q & A on hot-linking, image use.

Due to more questions I've received, there are some terms and scenarios that may be getting blurred or misunderstood:

Linking = providing the URL so people can click on it and follow where it leads

Hyperlinking = using code to turn highlighted text into a clickable link to do the same thing (rather than just the URL info)

Hotlinking = using someone else's bandwidth to display their images or content remotely at another site. If you have their permission to do this, all is square!  But, if you don't, you are stealing their bandwidth.

Bandwidth is not "free".  Just so you are aware, somebody, somewhere down the line is paying for it, even if the blogger's hosting service is a "free" one, like Blogger.  See "The myth of unlimited bandwidth"

When a blog exceeds it's allotted bandwidth capacity, it can be taken offline by the hosting service, or, in the case of Typepad, for example, where bloggers pay a fee for the hosting of their blog, they are billed the overage.

Links:  

• Just say No, Part I
• Just Say No, Part II
• Just Say No, Part III
• Q & A on image use/hotlinking

Continued dialogue: Q & A on hot-linking, image use

Paper Trufflez: More on hot-linking.

Paper Trufflez:  Just Say No

Q.  So please tell me if I am wrong it is like having 3 lamps on in your house (the lamps are the pictures and the house is your blog), 2 you are paying for through your own electricity account and the other is powered by an extension cord running from the neighbours?--Heather

A.  Heather, you're close!  Here's another analogy that may help:  It's like the neighbor tapping into your TV cable line, and now they're getting the same cable TV in their house that you get, but, they're not paying for it; you are.

Hope that makes sense!--Julie

Q.  I do a weekly "Friday Feature" on my blog where I search the galleries and blogs and find a card (or project) that totally inspires me and then I create my own work from that inspiration. I always post the piece that inspired me along with links to the persons blog and gallery along with my own creation. I always alert the person in case they don't want to be "featured"...

Is this wrong? Usually the photo is from a gallery and I save it to my computer and upload it to my blog (so it shouldn't use their bandwith) and then I create a link to their blog homepage.--Colleen

A.  As long as you have that image owner's consent to upload their image on your blog, you are A-OK!!!--Julie

Q.  I found this very informative and linked your article on my blog (hope that is ok!?!)--Cammie

A.  Absolutely OK to link to these articles at your blog!  Thank you, and thanks to others who also have linked to these articles, for helping spread the word!--Julie

Q.  When I participate with a sketch challenge, I save the image to my hard drive, then upload the image in my blog post. I always link to the originator of the sketch challenge. Is this considered image stealing? Since it's a sketch challenge, I want to show what the sketch is...and since it's a sketch challange, usually it's open to everyone's participation...I guess the authorization is implied.--Lacey

A.  Lacey, this is the protocol I follow at my blog: 

If I didn't create the image, content, sketch, etc. myself, I ask permission in advance from the person that did, to display it over at my blog/site (or wherever I was hoping to display it) and I always include a link to the source as well, for proper attribution.    The only time I would bypass asking, is if the image owner has included a notice in clear terms granting anyone permission to upload it at their blogs/sites.  I just find that assuming that permission is implied can often lead to problems down the road (we all know what can happen when we assume, eh?! *wink*)--Julie

Q.  When i use a stamp from a company, i always insert a link back to the company or to where the stamp is on their website for sale. I always wanted to do it out of the curtosy of promotion, helping others see what they have for sale. Is this hot linking?--Katie

A.  No, you are not hot-linking, if you simply provide the URL (link)  to where the image is located on their site (viewers have to click on the link, and go to the site to see the image). 

If you downloaded their image, saved it, and uploaded it to your blog without their consent, that is image theft and copyright violation.  If you copied and pasted  the image from their site to yours (instead of saving it to your computer, and then uploading it to your site), again, without their consent, you have not only stolen the image, but you may also have hot-linked it (image AND bandwidth theft in one swoop).  Hope that explains it!--Julie

Q.  Is linking to their site or a specific post bad netiquette if we haven't asked for permission?--Stephanie

A.  No, because you are not taking info from their site and putting it on yours (without their knowledge/consent).  Linking to their site or specific post is GOOD netiquette because you are directing folks (traffic) back to the original source to view the information.  Although it is possible, I have never heard of anyone objecting to this--it is typically greatly appreciated! *grin*--Julie

Paper Trufflez: Just say "No", part III

Paper Trufflez: Just say "No"..

For those following the above entry,  I wanted to share something else I found out:

It is possible many folks are hot-linking unwittingly by copying and pasting an image/content from one site to another!  I'm not the most tech savvy person, and had no idea this was possible until a discussion I had last night with a fellow blogger who realized she was unintentionally hotlinking!

 

So, you've asked permission to display someone else's pictures or content at your site/blog, and ya' got the green light from the owner to proceed! 

Wonderful!  Now, here's the next step you can take, to avoid hotlinking (using their bandwidth):

Save it to your computer (temporarily), and then upload it into your site/blog.  You can then delete the image from your computer. 

If you short-cut, by only copying and pasting, instead of following the above steps, you could end up hotlinking it.  

Here's a most excellent site you can visit for more information:

Are you a hotlinker?

I know the world wide web is vast, but, I really do hope that in bringing up this topic, we CAN make the paper-crafting corner of it a happy, courteous one--for all of us!  I think if we work together on this, it is possible!

I am just one very small voice; it takes many voices to help increase awareness.  If you'd like to link to any of my entries on this topic at your blog or website, to help spread the word, you are welcome to do so!

And, thank you!

I wish ya'll a stamp-happy day!

More on hot-linking (Just Say No, Part II)

Paper Trufflez: Just say "No", Part I

I edited the post linked above to illustrate hot-linking.  These examples can be seen beneath my signature in that post.

For those that need a little more clarification on a few things:

Image theft involves using or displaying an image (i.e. a photograph that is NOT one you yourself created/took with your camera) found at one website  at another website without the image (or content) owner's consent.

(the above has been edited to better clarify what image theft is)

When you make a card inspired by a design you saw somewhere online, upload it at your site/blog, and also include the URL to the original work, in order to credit that artist and so people can go directly to their site to view that piece, you are not stealing anything.  You are attributing the source of your inspiration.  This is always greatly, and joyfully appreciated!

I can't speak for all, but, many artists prefer that images from their site not be copied and transmitted via email; they prefer that the URL be provided so folks can go directly to the source and view the image there.  I always link, rather than pasting someone else's image into an email.

Bandwidth: In basic terms, bandwidth is a measurement of data passing through a transmission path or network connection.  The more bandwidth you have, the more data you can transfer.

Not all blog hosting services are free.  Mine is not!  I pay for it.  I pay for a certain amount of bandwidth each month.  But, if the bandwidth used at my blog exceeds the limit, I am also billed for the extra bandwidth used beyond that.  I get X amount for X dollars.  Any time it goes over, I am billed for the overage.

Bandwidth theft involves the deliberate use of additional code that "relays" the file location of an image where it really is hosted/exists, to make it visible on another site (rather than just the URL alone).  I actually didn't know the code myself--I had to go research and find it, in order to hot-link Jerri and Jenn's images for my illustration.

Websites that hot-link images and content (sometimes referred to as "para-sites" as in a parasite) from my site/blog are using, and taking advantage, of my bandwidth (not their own) at my expense (I paid for it, and will end up also paying the overage if they cause any by hot-linking),  to deliver (display) that information (which they did not create or produce) to their readers over at their site. 

It can be likened to siphoning gas from someone else's car, and putting it into your own car, if that makes sense?

What it all boils down to, is if you want to use someone else's images and content at your site, simple courtesy (not to mention copyright law), dictates that you ask permission to do so. 

And, as I previously stated:   "Ultimately, the answer lies in all of us, by keeping in mind how our actions impact other individuals, and to treat each other with courtesy."

  Happy Turkey Day!

Link:  Just Say "No", Part III

Just say "No".

What am I saying "No" to?

• Image harvesting
• Hot-linking

What's that?  Well, here are some definitions, to explain what I'm talking about:

Image harvesting: Displaying someone else's online photograph(s) or image(s) (photos /images you did not take/did not create yourself) on another website or blog without the image owner's consent in advance.  In short, this is image theft.

Hot-linking:  The use of a linked image or other object at one site, for display on another site.    Also referred to as "leeching", piggy-backing, inline-linking, off-site image grabbing.  In short, without consent, this is bandwidth theft.  ETA for clarification:  Every time you view a page, bandwidth is used. Hot-linking is a method of using one website's bandwidth (where the image or object is actually hosted) to "display" it on another.   But, if you're using another site's bandwidth to display their image on your site, you are, in effect, using their bandwidth, every time that page is loaded at your site, at their (often times increased) expense/cost, hence:  bandwidth theft.

In an effort to help me illustrate hot-linking, artists Jerri Jimenez and Jenn Balcer have granted me permission to hot-link to images on their respective blogs.  See the images shown below my signature line at the end of this blog entry.

Many individuals have been, or are finding themselves, victims of this type of theft, including myself.

Many artists devote considerable time and resources to share their creations, and other helpful information, including tutorials, online at their websites/blogs.  Some are hobbyists, and others may be professionals.

However, the courtesy of asking permission, in the interest of good netiquette, prior to taking or using someone else's images or other content from their site or blog, goes a long way in fostering good will and continued sharing among us all in the stamping and paper-crafting community, and holds true whether one is a hobbyist or a professional to the industry.

So, why did I bring this up, out of the blue?  Because, sadly, image, content and bandwidth theft are becoming increasingly rampant.

I don't want to cease sharing online because of it, but, I'll be upfront in that it has definitely affected what, how much, and how frequently I share online.

I will also say that I do believe, or want to believe, that the issue has become so problematic because  many folks are simply unaware that these practices are considered theft on the internet--a case of "everyone" is doing it, so it is assumed to be OK . . .

So, what can be done about the epidemic of image/bandwidth theft?  To be frank, the only way to stop it is to stop sharing online . . . Legally, it would not be worth the financial resources to pursue it for the average individual, either.  I might add, that just because images and content CAN be copied and pasted or hot-linked, that doesn't mean it's ethical or right to do so (without consent/permission).

Ultimately, the answer lies in all of us, by keeping in mind how our actions impact other individuals, and to treat each other with courtesy.

That's a good start!  I'm in.  Who's with me?

Links to the next articles in this series:

• More on hot-linking (Just say "No", Part II)
• Just say "No", Part III
• Discussion:  Q &A on hot-linking/image use

• "I like to share, too . . .",  by Janine @  Stamp, Paper, Scissors

Images below are examples of hot-linking, courtesy of artists Jerri Jimenez, and Jenn Balcer

Basically, I'm using the bandwidth from their blogs to display their images here at my blog.

Every time someone's browser loads the page with these images,  it contacts their servers (not mine) for the image content.   Although the images are seen here, the viewing of this page causes an increase in bandwidth usage, not for my site, but for THEIR sites!  Increased bandwidth usage can often result in increased bandwidth cost.  Now, who carries the cost of this increased bandwidth usage?  Not me, if I'm "leeching" it from theirs.

I hope this better illustrates what hot-linking is and why it is it is considered deplorable netiquette.

Special thanks to Jerri and Jenn for assisting me with this illustration!

It's really not glamorous . . . trust me . . .

I should have had Linda, co-owner of Ink About It, take a photo, as she peered down at me, asking, "OMG--Are you OK????!!!"

Rewind:

We'd just driven in to Westford from the Cape, and were still a bit groggy.  I honestly can't remember if we'd had coffee at that point . . .

We began unloading the car, and schlepping stuff in to the store--as I approached the store from the parking lot, Linda swung open the door with that wonderful smile of hers.

Stepping up onto the side walk there, with a rolling suitcase (class materials) in one hand, my laptop bag on one shoulder, a heavy bag holding punches in another hand, and a tote with even more supplies over the other shoulder, I'm sure I looked like a plump little pack mule.

Linda C., owner of A Muse called out to me from the car, asking about something.   And, here's where I made my fatal mistake:  I turned around.  To better hear what she was saying.

The centrifugal force of rotating, combined with an unbalanced load on my person caused me to stumble against the rolling suitcase.  And, that was it. The law of gravity was in motion; I was going down, and there was no stopping it.

Flat on my back, bags strewn about me, that, my friends, was how I met the owner of Ink About It.

Anything but glamorous, grand, or impressive, I'm your girl. *chuckle* 

 

Holiday Tree Dash

Wait for it . . .

                    Wait for it . . .

 

OH MYLAAAAANTA!!!, do I ever love how this turned out!  This is one of my fav-O-rites, this little car with the tree up on top--so fun!

I know.  S'nothin' fancy--no fabulous fold, no slick tool or trick, no patterned paper, just a wee bit o' color. And some glitter.   That's it!  That's all she stamped!  And, yet, oh, how I lub, lubs LUBS it!!!

   Oh, yeah. You *know* it!  I'm gleeful, and giddy, and I almost can't stand m'self!  (arms wrapped around self, and seriously DEEP chortlin')  Almost.  heh, heh, heh!

I spent today filming and editing our design team's creations for a coming release.  ..........THUD!!!  That's all I'll say.

I am a vault.   

Meantime . . . Typepad has gone and switched me over to their new editor; jury's still out on deliberations.

And, in other news, Mon blog a gagné un prix! (translation:  My blog won a prize!) --Merci beaucoup to Marie, in Switzerland--do visit her blog--her work is lovely and her scrapbook pages are absolutely charming!  I don't speak or understand French (I wonder if I could learn using Rosetta Stone?),  and can grasp only little, LITTLE tidbits here and there, but, I just love "reading" her writing . . . I can feel the enthusiasm and excitement in her words--she's so dang CUTE!  Marie, you rocked my world with your very kind compliment.  {{{{{{{{{Marie}}}}}}}}}}

I made a card today.  Just for the halibut!  It's been a *good* day. (grin)

Back from New England

Immediately after our Instructor Team Training event in Seattle (good--no, GREAT TIMES!!!, but, I'm the worst people photographer; none of my shots were all that great so I haven't shared.  Well, that, and I've had ZERO TIME--ACK!), Linda and I had to gear up for our New England Live Class schedule--10 classes in 4 days.  Are we crazy insane or what???!!!!  It took the two of us 7 hours just to cut all the paper-- I won't even tell ya' how long the kitting took!  Why, yessum, we are indeed a pair o' loons! *chuckle* 

Needless to say, it's always a jam-packed adventure with Linda and we had a FAB time in New England, despite the exhausting pace!

One of the things I love most about traveling and teaching, is that I always learn or discover something I didn't know before . . . for instance . . .

• If you catch a red-eye out of Seattle and arrive in Boston at 7:15 am ET, drive out to the Cape, and then inject some Starbucks into your veins (!!!) you can actually remain standing and teach a few classes . . .  AAaaannnnd, if one is accustomed to the "robust" blend of Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts coffee tastes rather like dirty water . . . (!)
• All the hot dining spots out on the Cape shut down at 8:30pm in the off-season.  Whazzzzzup wid 'dat???  Didn't they know we'd come to to paaar-tay??? *snarf*
• That one J. Shurkus is reputed to be the "Bucket Nazi", a title of distinction . . . and fear among stampers of Cape Cod and certain areas of Boston . . . *wink*
• New England has the most confusing roadway system we have ever encountered.    Serious.  I don't know how you peeps know where you're goin' out there!
• That it is possible to get a Chinook wind in NH  -- not just out in the PNW-- but, folks back East don't know that it's actually called a Chinook, so when you mention it, they look at you like you're from Mars or sumpin'.
• And, if you're gonna fit in with the locals, you must practice saying, "Wicked smaaaht caaahds!"  Yeah.  Just like that.  ROTFLMBO!
  

Our first stop:

Colorful Creations, Hyannis MA: Where fellow Instructor Shurkus (as I affectionately call her) manages and teaches!  What a fun FUN place!

I get so "into" the rubbah, that I always frogget to whip out my camera and snap a few pics, but, Jayne and the fab staff at CC took a group shot and they have an album of pics, too, right HERE.  And,  there were cupcakes.  Yummalicious cupcakes!!!

Next stop:

Ink About It, Westford MA:  Owners Linda and Lori have a delightful store!

Check out these fab shots of the events, and some of the class projects we did on their blog right HERE!  Karen made us the most darling cupcake favors, and inside:  a MONDO cupcake with decadent chocolate frosting!  OMG! 

We actually did catch one very lucky break in between classes one day while in Westford to drive out to Fish Bones, in Chelmsford, to sample the local cuisine!!!  

Aaaaaand, I had a chance to meet sweet friends Robin, who shared some gaaaw-jus dominoe pins she'd made with us, and Heather, IRL for the very first time, as they drove all the way to take the classes! DA' BOMBS, both!   So sassy with their ATG guns, eh?!

And, our final stop:

The Paper Tree, Manchester NH:  Owner Michelle is just the sweetest gal ever, and she had this unbelievable array of cupcakes for all the folks that came for classes with us--Check out these wicked gourmet chocolates on top!

We were startin' to get pretty goofy by the end of the day . . . *chuckle*

This trip was particularly fun for us in that we got to see new A Muse Instructors Jen Daloisio and Liz Ballard once again, and meet Greta, one of the original A Muse Design Team Members, for the first time IRL!  WOO HOOOOOOO!!!

There were a LOTTA cupcakes involved on this trip, I tell ya'!  *chinkle*

Here's my personal favorite of the class designs we did featuring Cupcake Builder:

Such an unlikely color combo, and yet I fell in love with it!

Thank you so much to Jayne, Linda & Lori, and Michelle for inviting us to come out and teach and many thanks to all of you that joined us for classes and it was such a thrill to meet you--lots o' squishy hugs--hope nobody minded!   

Sometimes life just gits bizzzy . . .

It's been a hectic 3-4 weeks!  After I taught up in Canada, we had our A Muse Instructor Training event in Seattle, and Tuesday after that, Linda and I flew out to Boston to visit some of our wonderful stores and teach (10 classes over 4 days).  Home again on Sunday night, and BAM!  Right back at it.

I have some pics to share and tales to tell, but, at the moment, I just need to breathe.  And, sleep.

I have to remind myself that "There's more to life, than increasing its speed."  I dunno who said that, but, when I feel life zoomin' along, mach 3 and m' hair ablaze, I find I need to remind myself to be still, do nothing, just breathe.  And, believe it or not, the planet will NOT roll off its axis!  Go figure! *chortle*

 

Happy Cupcake Day, indeed!

I had a LOT of fun developing this one--Hayley said this one looked yummy enough to eat!    It reminds me of my friend Cambria, who adores pink!  *chuckle*

The Chiffon Pink Note Card is kind of a creamy, shrimp pink--that's the best way I know how to describe it.  It has warm, as opposed to cool, undertones.  GAAAAAW-JUS  with the Kitchen Chocolate paper, too!

When I was teaching down at the Paper Garden in Sacramento, I spied this bottle of Platinum Stickles--OH MYLAAAAANTA!!!  Is it ever puurrrrr-deeeee!!!  I used it to create the row of dots to cover up a row of piercing I did.  I didn't like it.  So, I disguised 'em.  Tricksy, eh?!  Heh, heh, heh!

I'm looking forward to this weekend.  I'm headed to Seattle and anxious to meet many of our Instructors and some of our Designers for the first time IRL!  It's been too long since I last hugged Pebbles; crikey--I think it's been a year and a half.

Rumor has it, there will be cupcakes . . . and . . . quite possibly . . .

. . . appletinis . . . 

Stamps: Cupcake Builder Set (amuseartstamps.com); Paper:  Chiffon Pink 4 Bar Note Card, Kitchen Chocolate Paper (A Muse); Paper Flower (Making Memories); Button:  Foo-fa-La; Copic Markers:  R11 Pale Cherry Pink, R20 Blush, E11 Barely Beige; Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko); Stickles Platinum Gliter Glue (Ranger)

Wishing you . . .

Yeah, I'm still dreaming of a white Christmas . . . I actually dream about it all year long.  ROTFLMBO!  "Surely you jest, Julie?!"  Nope!  I really do!

I happened to use Faber Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils to color this class design in--they are awesome on super dark card stocks, like black, and also on this yummy oatmeal!  Great.  Now I'm hungry for oatmeal!   With brown sugar, cinnamon, and cream . . . YUM! 

Anyhoo, you could also use Koh-I-Noor, which also work well on this kind of paper surface!  I dunno about you, but, I like my pencil tips extra sharp, and I finally found a good pencil sharpener for my pencils!  I was at Michael's, looking to buy extra white pastel pencils, and found a 2 pak of General's White Charcoal pencils.  I figured what the heck--may as well try 'em and see what they're like, and with 'em came this nifty little all-metal sharpener.  It is DA' BOMB, and now I use it on ALL my pencils!  Who'da thunk?!

SCORE!!!    

Stamps:  Peace & Cheer Set (A Muse Artstamps); Paper:  Oatmeal card stock, Vintage Red 4 Bar Note Card (A Muse); Ink:  Versamagic Cloud White (Tsukineko), Fluid Chalk Dark Brown (Clearsnap); Faber Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils; Oval Punch (EK Success)