Museum of Paper

Paper Craft Downloads

From our always amazing contributor Mai-Liis comes this link to papercraft ideas and more:

Link: Paper Crafts | YAMAHA MOTOR.

Capturing Screen "Parts"

In a discussion about  how to capture arbitrary parts of the screen there's discussion about using ScreenJot, which the Download Squad gushes about;

"you can hit Ctrl-Shift-5 and get a little crop tool, so you can grab just a section of the screen. This will drop a BMP into a folder called "scraps" on your desktop."

I like the idea of capturing just part of the screen rather than the whole thing so it sounds like something worth looking into - and not just for bloggers, artists or people interested in art.

Also I came across a reference to Hoversnap. One poster says it:

"has been my staple for doing this. Full screen, active window and selected area can be saved in a variety of formats. FREEWARE, also."

I know I'm skittish about anything that's billed as free since I question the tech support and quality control but having a quick and easy tool like this would be handy.

An Enmeshed Tale - Deep in the Heart of Texas

A treat from our popular guest blogger Mai-Liis Peacock

How can scorpions and mixed media art possibly relate? 
This is an easy question for any mixed media artist, but not so for anyone else.

As a California transplant recently moved to the Austin, TX area I was warned about "bugs"...and, indeed, I discovered that all of my neighbors are visited by a variety of exterminating companies on a rather regular basis.  I decided that I would do no such thing!  I'll take bugs over poisons any day, thank you very much.

All went well for eight months.  I had ignored the time that someone else found five scorpions in my garage.

Art e-zine Cafe, Yahoo, and You

The UK is home to a multitude of delights in addition to afternoon tea and many interesting doings can be found at their Art-e-zine Cafe. 

As far as I know the Cafe exists as a website and a yahoo group and do not yet do the blogging thing. But with time things do tend to change in the artsy world, and do so with some regularity, so stay tuned to either website or yahoo group for further developments.

In fact - between you and me - I'm wondering why groups don't start more group blogs and ditch Yahoo groups which are so infamous for their abundant glitches not to mention limitations and then some.

But back to the Art-e-zine Cafe, get your eyes ready for a plethora of  background images and fonts etc. and your reward is that you'll find Gillian's amassed lots and LOTS of resources linking to fun and funky people places and things.

Say "Hallo" from the Museum-keeper while you're browsing about, OK?

Traveling On Art Money's Tab

Spend Art Money!

OK, so now the word is that you can spend Art Money on Travel. Is this great news or what!!!

Maybe we should keep a blog, or even a wiki, where we can list where we spent Art Money and what the reaction was. Photos of the expressions on people's faces would be classic.

Direct from the BIAM website comes this Travel news -

"You can travel and stay over night where a "host" will accept your visit. It will cost one Art Money pr. person pr. night.As a traveller you simply find the host on the BIAM host list and take contact before hand to arrange a visit. You qualify as a traveller if you hold some Art Money to pay for accomodation."

I wish the US would get into this Art Money thing big time. I predict New Mexico and California will lead the way when it happens. Or I could be just wishing that would be so. Then I could make my New Mexico Sangre de Christo studio a reality.

Hey you cutting edge New Yorkers - any of this happening where YOU are?  We want details!

Print Your Own Money at Home!

BIAM, the International Bank of Art Money, which I spoke about in the newest Art Money story has issued some guidelines which can sometimes make my brain cells hurt when I read it. I'm pretty sure that it is only because he's not a native English speaker and so the thoughts come out a bit jostled about. In any case, I'm never quite sure that I've got it right.

He first says:

"Any artist may apply for registration in BIAM in order to issue art money. BIAM will excersise censurship and reserve the right to reject an artist based on viewing the three art money recieved. It is up to the individual applicant to define “artist”, and any medium will do."

I'm OK up to this point.

1. Only certified BIAM artists may issue art money.
2. The quantity of art money issued by a single artist must not exceed the value of art or services provided by this artist.
3. Each art money must be original art. Measure 12x18 cm. Clearly show serial number, year of production, artist nationality, artist name, artist original signature, and BIAM web address: www.art-money.org .

A Professional Presence Online

I came across the Expose' site by chance and was very impressed with not only how clean and professional the format looks but with how artist-intuitive it is.

I also like that their set up allows you to display your entire collection of work online quickly - and easily. Plus, it seems like the cost is low. That's true especially when compared to other rediculously overpriced services I've looked at on one hand - and the others which scream "amateurish" on the other hand.

There is a tour that has more detail at: http://www.myexpose.com/tour/
If you want to try a month free just use the freebie code : 17904

Beyond this, are there other services that you'd like to share with us?

Beyond the freebie things for photo sharing like webshots, what groups or businesses offer something similar?

The Museum's readers would be particularly interested in them - especially any that you've had experience with that are a step up from the free options out there.

 

Bite into Weird Wonderful Word Biscuits

From those informative folks at . . .
    

- othersise known as boing boing - I learned about Bokstavskex - which generates words of your choosing set in type composed of alphabet "digestive biscuits."

These digestive biscuits look like a cross between Ritz crackers and Saltines but I'm game. . .

After less than a minute I came up with biscuits spelling out

Hey this works pretty well.

and then

in no time . . .I put together . .

Funny thing to use to spice up the blog - or get some attention with what you spell out - or send  the right "words" to mom and make her laugh.

Or just see what fun you can come up with to share.

Weird or Wonderful - What do you think? 

Be a Winner : Suzanne Cannon Challenges You!

It'a obviously the the perfect opportunity to use some Artistamps of Ephemeria as . . .

Suzanne Cannon at Quietfire Design, has issued her big 5th Anniversary Challenge

Send a hand-decorated postcard which must arrive on or before May 10, 2006 and your name will go in the drawing for $50 worth of Quietfire byhand products All the submissions will be displayed on the Subscriber's Gallery Page.

Here's the link to the address
(or go to http://quietfiredesign.com/postcard.htm).

The winner will be announced in the May Newsletter.

PS: To subscribe to the newsletter yourself & get all this info firsthand click here.

PPS: Learn More about Artistamps at the new Artistamps Info Blog

Free Tools Could Manage Even Bill Gates' Workflow

I clicked on this one it because I was looking for something focused on free / open source tools for making my time more productive in the biz side of life. I found it full of resources.

That old "I'm just an artist so I don't really use this stuff" bit just doesn't cut it anymore.

(If you don't ever use "to do" lists and brainstorming, you're the exception.)