For the last several months I have been working on a new crafting publishing venture to help middle school kids and their parents, which we hope will be life changing. The website is up at Craft-It-Easy . In order to move forward, I need some market research. Accordingly, I have devised a short 10 multiple choice question survey about middle school kids' school projects, using Google Docs (who knew?!) I hope it will be fairly entertaining. If you have (or had) a middle school aged child (grades 4 - 8 or roughly 8/9 years old to 13/14 years old) please take my survey. Also please feel free to pass the survey e-mail or link on to anyone with middle school aged kids who has a few minutes to click the boxes. Even if you don't have middle school aged children, or don't believe that this survey has any relevance to you, please feel free to pass it on to anyone you know who does! The more responses I receive, the more useful is the data. I will be post...

Here's something new - a sketch for a card based on the last page layout sketch. Layers of pretty textures. It would be fun to incorporate a stamped image too.

Simple and easy non-permanent, non-marring label for wood (or other materials) magazine holder. 3x5 index card, small clip. If desired you could use the other side as a tidy index for the contents.

A double page asymetrical layout for 4 photos. If you like it, Pin it. Please sign up for my newsletter! It's going to be fun.

I 've started the new Facebook page and created the first newsletter blast about Craft-It-Easy.  At Craft-It-Easy we design and publish illustrated step-by-step how to instructions to help middle schoolers and their parents make their crafty school projects - models, miniatures, dioramas and reproductions - fast, fun and easy. Initially we'll be publishing eBook titles, and we hope to have printed versions in retailers, especially craft stores, soon. Please sign up for the newsletter on this page. You'll hear about new posts on the upcoming Craft-It-Easy blog and website, product news, and other hints and tips about crafting school projects. The first title will be "How to Make a Model of an Animal Cell", a big and popular 7th Grade Life Sciences project.

Here is a 12 x 12 sketch featuring a bit of background texture, a cluster of different sized images and embellishments and a nice freehand journalling around the edge of the photos. I would keep the background papers light in color and pick up colors from the images for the embellies. Remember you don't have to write the captions in black ink! Pick another ink color that works with the photos. Alternatively a dark background and light gel pens, or metallic markers, could work.

In honor of Independence Day, here is a manufacturer's  coupon for $2.12 off a bottle of Best Glue Ever (which totally lives up to its name). I love this glue so much, as well as all the other ScraPerfect products. The coupon expires July 7, 2012 , so hurry. Use: BestGlueEver4Independence2012 in the checkout, one per customer. Please follow ScraPerfect on Facebook too.