Inserting items in Ponds: set items in your pond with a dot of hot glue then pour your resin. The resin will dissolve most of the glue creating a very realistic effect. Becky Holliday |
Cordon Puff: Fall is coming. Your local hobby supply should be getting in this item. It is a large, dried blossom about the size of an orange. When cut apart, it makes perfect dried grass and rush's for your scenes or ponds. See tip above for application to ponds. Becky Holliday |
How to become computer-self-sufficient without becoming a computer geek: 1: Get a how-to book. Really. There are a couple of different series, but I'm most comfortable with the "________ for Dummies" series, since everything is so easy to find. The first time I worked in an office with a PowerMac (this was several years ago, but then all I had ever used were PCs and an old black and white 'breadbox' style mac), the "Macintosh for Dummies" book was so helpful, and kept me from feeling like an idiot. Many libraries have these, but they are so useful I recommend getting one for yourself. 2: Keep your computer and printer and scanner and whatever else manuals in a convenient place. I keep mine in a file folder in the front of the file cart, so they are easy to find. Highlight the help-line phone numbers, and note whether they are free or not. Read through them a couple of times, just enough to get a sense of where everything is so you can find it when you need it. If they have troubleshooting charts, flag these with tape so you can find them immediately if there is a problem. 3: Keep your software manuals on a bookshelf within reach of your desk (these are usually actual books, rather than slim booklets), and do the same sorts of things with them. Flag any quick-start guides in the manuals. 4: keep a little notebook of stuff that you do often or need to remember how to do. Writing things down helps to get them into memory - - I do this in my work room and the kitchen too! Also, a little flashlight can be a lifesaver if all that's happened is a loose cable. 5: If anything came with special hardware, cartridges or cables (like a digital camera), and they don't always plug into the back of the computer, set aside a special place to keep them. Our digital camera and all its little bits and bobs live in a little plastic shoebox on the file cart. Maura Bass |
A few computer tips: I've heard a few list members say that they are computer newbies. Since I can't offer any miniatures tips, as I am a 'mini-newbie', here are a few computer tips. 1. Install a good antivirus program and update it frequently. Since most viruses come to home users via email, look for one that has an email scanner. I use AVG Free Edition, which updates its virus database automatically, scans incoming and outgoing email, and has an Outlook Express plug-in. It's available at http://www.grisoft.com 2. To make sure new diskettes are usable, format the disk. Here are the steps in Windows: insert the diskette in the drive, open "My Computer" on your desktop, right mouse click on the "A" drive icon, and select "Format disk" from the menu. I don't have a re-writable CDROM drive yet, but I'm sure there are ways this function can be performed on new blank CDs. 3. Maura gave good advice on organizing your workspace; organize your computer as well. Only keep shortcuts on your desktop to those programs you use frequently. Organize your Start menu into categories and move all programs that created their own entries on your start menu into the appropriate categories. Close or minimize all windows except the one you are currently working on. 4. Do not delete any system files. If you're not sure what these are, there is an option you can select to hide system files so that you can't accidentally click on them. When in doubt, don't delete! 5. Just as in miniatures, the best way to learn your computer is to play with it! Click on buttons. Consult help files. Experiment with programs. Have fun! Molly |
What is a URL: Oh, please don't feel like you might sound stupid because of asking this question! We were all in the same situation at one time! To answer your first question, a URL is an acronym for Uniform Resource Locator, which is an address for a web site, such as: http://www.smallstuff-digest.com that's the URL for the SmallStuff digest's web site. If your are with AOL, then AOL refers to the URL as an "AOL keyword" At the "AOL's Go" prompt, you type in the keyword (or address) and you are transported to that site. Joy Perkins |
For copying and pasting (you wrote cut and paste), when you "cut" you're removing it, as is "cutting it out" so it's better to copy and paste. To copy and paste, you need to first select the text to be copied by positioning the mouse pointer at the beginning of the text you want to copy, then you need to highlight the text to be copied. You have 2 ways to do this: 1) click the mouse pointer over the portion of the text to be copied and make sure your mouse pointer is no longer an arrow but an "I" beam. Then hold down the Shift key *and at the same time* press the arrow key in the direction you want to highlight the text. The text will highlight. 2) The other method of selecting the text to be copied is to position the mouse pointer at the beginning of the text, then click and drag across the portion of text you want to copy. It should now be highlighted. You now have your text selected with either of those 2 methods. To copy the text, press Ctrl C by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing c at the same time. The text is placed in the memory of the computer. Then you open up your browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape or AOL's browser) and position your mouse pointer in the address location of the browser. Once positioned, press Ctrl V in the same method you used for the Ctrl C command. You should now have the "address" copied into the browser window. Once the address is there, press Enter and you will be transported to that web page. Hope all of this helps! Joy Perkins |
Blackberry portable internet device: - For AOL members, here is a URL to start with (I can't access the AOL members area to find the actual prices or info) - http://www.aol.com/anywhere/mobilecomm/index.html this is the AOL version - same product, AOL branding and access. - For purchasing information (US) try - For Canadian try For more info about accessing the Internet on it - try here: - I have the 950 - now warning - "surfing" the Internet does not mean pictures. It means data. And it doesn't work if the site is not accessible (not to strict HTML 4.0 standards - but more site owner awareness of errors and potential problems). What I adore about it though is, that as long as you are in a digital area, you get your email, you get access, you can write to people. For traveling - you lose access in areas without digital, but the email doesn't get lost, you catch it again when you get back in range. Noella |
AOL communicator: I checked out the device (blackberry) via AOL. Cost is about $330.00 + a monthly charge of $19.95. It is a wireless device. Works like a pager or digital phone. If you are out of range for the digital phone or this "blackberry" device you do not receive anything, nor do you lose anything. It is the size of a hand held pager (as it appears to me) so that if I intend to read mail it displays a few lines and you have to scroll. Since it does not display pictures but only data at this cost I personally would opt for a lap top. Yes it is more costly and bigger but I get EVERYTHING. This is my personal opinion. DrBob |
Email access when out of town: I have used Pocket Mail for about a year now when I am out of town, to receive messages. The unit is somewhere between $89 and $150 depending upon what you buy, the monthly service fee is $9.95. It relies on regular telephones to send and receive messages. I write a message on its screen (has a small keyboard), dial up an 800 number, hold the device to the telephone, and the message is sent and notice of any incoming emails comes in at the same time. I have to redial to request those messages, but it does work well, and does not rely on wireless digital, so it will work in the woods if there is a phone. There is also a free phone number for calling in Canada. The downside is its memory, which cannot accept something as large as a Small Stuff digest. Since finding that out the hard way I only give its address out to my family, show assistant, and others who might have an urgent need to get to me. It does regular email just fine. For more information on this method of communicating while at miniature shows go to http://www.pocketmail.com and go from there. Barb Jones |
Printing: I also have an HP printer Before I print I click on Preview. That will show you how much is on the page. I move all borders to within 1/2" of the edges of the paper. When you click on Print it will tell you that the printer is set outside the printable area, but so far I always tell it to go ahead and I've never lost anything. Also sometimes if you change the orientation of the sheet to be printed to Landscape instead of Portrait you can gain a little space. You do this by clicking on Print, Properties and then check the box for landscape. Fannye |
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