I promised you a few of weeks ago that we would be having a full review of printers for both layouts and albums.  I know we all have our favorite printers (I did before trying them all out).  But, there have been a few new printers join the market in the last while and maybe you have been wondering how they would measure up.  Today, I will be telling you all about the results I had when I printed the same layout at several different sites.

Please note:  THE DAILY DIGI does not have paid sponsors, we do not accept paid (or traded) forms of advertising on our site from other sites, services, or designers, nor do we have affiliates.  No coupons or discounts were asked for or used in the printing of these layouts.  I have only ever printed at Costco and Winkflash before printing layouts for this review.

I set up accounts at each printer under a different name and had the layouts shipped to a different address other than my own.  All, in the hopes, that I could provide you with the most accurate and unbiased information to help you pick the best printer for you.

On every layout, I ordered a matte or lustre finish, this is just my personal preference.  I also chose the “no correction” or “auto correct off” option at each site.

This is the layout I had printed, all supplies are by SirScrapalot:

Results

These printers’ results are in alphabetical order.  I rated each site in the following ways:

Intimidation Factor: How intimidated I felt about the site in general, before even setting up an account or uploading.
None = not intimidating
Mild = mild intimidation
High = I was very intimidated and if it would not have been for doing a review for TDD, I would have quit.

Ease of upload: How easy was it to find the upload area and select the photos for uploading.
5= Awesome very easy, no problems
3= okay
1= Pretty bad,, lots of problems

Photo colors: How true the colors printed compared to my calibrated monitor.
5= perfect
3= somewhat different
1= very different

Paper/element details and colors: How true the paper and element colors were compared to my calibrated monitor.
5= perfect
3= somewhat different
1= very different

There will be some other information included in each review, such as amount of time for uploading and the amount of time it took me to complete an order from start (getting to the site) to finish (hitting submit).  I am also including bits of information that I think you might want to know.  Let’s get started…

Artscow

Intimidation Factor: mild, there are so many products on the homepage that it was a bit overwhelming.

Ease of Upload: 2, it took me forever to find where to upload the photos and how to purchase individual layouts.  I finally found them in the canvas printing section.

It took me 2 minutes and 13 seconds to upload a 3600×3600 layout.  It was 20 minutes to place the order from the very start to the finish.  Choices on finishes were glossy or matte.  I printed an 8×8 matte and 12×12 matte. 8×8’s are $1.99 and 12×12’s are $2.99. The shipping charges were $6.98.

Photo colors: 4, photos were a little darker.

Paper colors: 4, colors were a little less saturated.  Detail on all paper colors was kept (even white).

Other information: The prints came packaged in a tube and I didn’t think I would ever be able to flatten them.  They did flatten out when I set them inside my scanner for awhile but are still wavy.

The most odd thing to me was how they trimmed my layout. The borders on both sides of my layout were the same, but on this print it was wider on the left side than the right. The border on the top and bottom on my layout were the same as well, but the border on the print was slightly larger on the bottom than the top.

Costco

Note:  I have been printing at Costco since they started offering 12×18 prints in my area…at least 4 years. So, I can’t really rate the intimidation factor.  However, almost two years ago, they went through a site redesign and I have had problems uploading ever since.  I usually select the one-by-one upload option and do okay.  You also need to select the high-resolution option because the “faster” option (low res) is selected by default.  Because of these things, I would have to give Costco a 2 on ease of upload because it’s not easy and I have been using them for a long time.

It took me 1minute 23 seconds to upload a 3600×3600 layout.  I always pick my orders up.  They contract out orders that are shipped, so this review does not include orders shipped.  12×12’s are $2.99 each, 8×8’s are $1.49 each.  When I place an order for layouts, I usually put 3) 12×12’s on a 12×36 canvas for $4.99 ($1.66 per 12×12) and take the CD in to be printed, then I come home and trim. I have also been known to print out several 6×6’s at one time (on a 12×18 canvas or a 12×36) for my kids to have copies.

Photo colors: 4 photos were darker and seemed off on the hue a bit as well.  They also seemed blurry.

Paper colors: 4 colors were a little less saturated, detail on papers were kept, however they seemed blurry.

Other information: Being able to upload and then go pick up layouts the same day is really wonderful!!  The flexibility of sizes is a bonus too, not to mention the prices!  I was a little surprised at the blurriness especially when compared to the other prints.

MyPicTales

Intimidation Factor: none

Ease of Upload: 3, I didn’t like having to enter ALL of my information (including shipping) before even uploading anything.

It took me 1 minute and 56 seconds to upload a 3600×3600 layout.  My only option was a 12×12, no finish or paper options, these prints are 99cents.  It took me 11 minutes from start to finish to place an order.

Photo colors: 1, photos were very, very washed out and looked like they had been lightened quite a bit

Paper colors: 1, just as the photos, the papers seemed to be washed out, but not as bad as the photos were.  There was no texture detail on the white paper behind the journaling.

Other information: The paper is a cardstock quality (matte).  I don’t think the paper would have bothered me if the images would have been closer to what was on my computer, because once it is in a sheet protector, it’s not that noticeable.  Overall, there was a really big difference in appearance though.

MPix

Intimidation Factor: mild, because it is a site directed at professional photographers and it was a little intimidating at first. Once I got going though, it was not too much different than any other site.

Ease of Upload: 5, no problems at all

It took me 2 minutes 10 seconds to upload a 3600×3600 layout.  It took me 15 minutes to place an order from start to finish.  It was $5.95 for a 12×12 on “e-paper”, $2.75 for an 8×8 on “e-paper” (which I think stands for endura) with lustre coating, and $1.99 for an 8×8 on “e-paper”.

Photo colors: 2, quite a bit darker than what was on my monitor

Paper colors: 2, were darker as well, but the worst was that there was absolutely no texture on the white papers behind the journaling on the 12×12’s.  There was a slight amount of texturing on the 8×8’s, but only if you looked really closely.

Other information: Based on price and the fact that Mpix caters to photographers, I thought the printing results would be much better than they were.  I thought I would be struggling with the choice of paying so much to print awesome layouts.  I was sadly disappointed.

Persnickety Prints

Intimidation Factor: none

Ease of Upload: 5, I really liked that I only had to enter my name, email address, and password to get started.  Their uploader is java based and my vista and java don’t play nicely, so I had to do the one-by-one uploader, but not a big deal and not their fault.

It took me 2 minutes and 16 seconds to upload a 3600×3600 layout.  The 12×12 premium matte paper was $1.99 ($1.79 after 200 prints).  The 8×8 premium matte was 99cents.  It took me a total of 14 minutes to place the order from start to finish.

Photo colors: 5 the colors in the photo were almost perfect!

Paper colors: 4, there was some loss of detail on the white paper.

Other information: The black journaling seemed to have a yellowish/greenish cast to it.  I checked my black in Photoshop and it was a true black.  I’m not sure if this is because of their printing process or just something done differently on my layout.  This order was received the quickest out of all of them.

Scrapbook Pictures

Intimidation Factor: none

Ease of Upload: 2, It took me quite a bit of time and clicking to figure out where to go to upload layouts.  Once I uploaded the layouts, it took me a very long time to figure out how to order the different sizes and finishes of the same layout.

It took me 1 minute and 55 seconds to upload on 3600×3600 layout.  The 12×12 matte layout was $1.49, a 12×12 pro matte was $1.69, 8×8 matte was 89cents, 8×8 pro matte was $1.49.  It took me 30 minutes to place an order from start to finish.

Photo colors: Photos were very dark compared to my monitor.

Paper colors: 4, slightly darker in color, no loss in detail on white paper.

Other information: The pro paper is a heavier weight paper, but the images were more true in color on the regular paper.  All things considered, I would skip the extra cost for pro paper and stick with the regular.

Ordering on Scrapbook Picture was the most frustrating of any of the sites.  It did not seem to be very intuitive to me.  Not only that, but after I received my orders from all of the other sites, but one, I decided to check on my order and somehow, I didn’t send it.  I really thought I had sent the order because I had to enter so much information.  I finished placing the order, but then when the order came it wasn’t right.  I got two 12×12’s on regular matte paper and no 8×8’s.  I called them and they had the whole order reprinted and I got it 5 days later.

Scrapping Simply

Intimidation Factor: none

Ease of Upload: 5

It took me 2 minutes and 2 seconds to upload a 3600×3600 layout.  It took me 12 minutes to place my order from start to finish.  I ordered a 8×8 matte 99cents and a 12×12 matte for $1.99

Photo colors: 5, colors on photos were perfect

Paper colors: 3, colors were almost exact, but there was a total loss of detail on the white paper.

Other information: As I was writing this, I went back to the site to check on something and it looks like you have to install some software in order to upload and order layouts.  I clicked on the button for those that would prefer not to install the software and I got an error.  I decided to install the software (only because I am writing this, otherwise it would have been a no-go for me), but then it also wanted me to update my browser.  At that point, I quit.

Winkflash

note: this site had a total redesign since I ordered Christmas cards there 3 years ago, so it was like starting over.

Intimidation Factor: none

Ease of Upload: 3, I thought at first that I could upload without registering, because the site let me upload when I clicked on upload.  Where that layout went, I will never know because they never asked me for my information after that.  Then, I had to register and go through the whole upload process again.  Instead of taking you to an upload area, it should redirect you to a register/login page.

It took me 57 seconds to upload one 3600×3600 layout.  I could only see an 8×8 option (matte or glossy) for $1.49 with 89cents shipping on that one layout.  It took me 13 minutes to place the order

Photo colors: 3, darker and more red in tone as well.

Paper colors: 3, darker and some loss of detail on the white journaling paper.

Other information: The trimming on this one was really odd as well.  It’s almost as if it were printed full-bleed on the top and left edge and then the right and bottom were trimmed to make the 8×8 because there was more trimmed from those edges.

White House Custom Color/WHCC

Intimidation factor: extremely high

I set up an account and they said they would follow up with information on what I needed to do to upload prints.  A week later, I received a letter in the mail, telling me that I must submit test prints before ordering anything.  After you upload test prints, they mail them to you, you make sure your computer likes their printer (by installing profiles and all of that fun stuff) THEN you can order some layouts.  This site caters to professional photographers and I have heard wonderful things about their prints.  I was not able to get the layouts done for this post, but will follow-up when I do.

Where will I be printing?  I think for stuff that I need right away, I will still be printing at Costco.  I will also be saving up my layouts to print with Persnickety.  The colors in the photos and the papers were almost perfect!!  I really was surprised at the differences from printer to printer and how many of them got it wrong.  Persnickety was really the only one that got it all right.

I think I would also like to try Scrapping Simply again, IF they get that redirect fixed so I don’t have to install a bunch of stuff.  They have some great prices on canvases, from what I could see (couldn’t find anything with a link to them to see for sure).

All in all, I was surprised at how well some of the newer printers did (especially Persnickety).  Because so many of my digi friends use Scrapbook Pictures and love them, I expected to love them as well, but the love just wasn’t there… Sorry girls!

Hopefully, this gives you some concrete information that you can use in making your own decisions about which printers you want to try!  I will be back, as promised, with reviews on photobooks/albums.

P.S. Your purchases of THE DIGI FILES go toward paying for posts like this.  If you found this post valuable and have not ever purchased THE DIGI FILES, you might want to start grabbing them! PLUS you get so much good scrapping stuff, how can you lose?

One of the best parts about writing posts here at The Daily Digi is the opportunity to teach a new trick or skill to help someone feel more comfortable with digital scrapbooking. I (Katie) love those “AHA!” moments that come when you learn something new, and it is such a great feeling when you try it out for yourself and it actually works!

I remember feeling mystified by brushes. I didn’t know what they were, and I really did not understand why I would want to use them. Now I even know how to make my own brushes! I thought it would be fun to show you how to turn a .png file image into a brush and explain why you would want to do that. Before I begin, here are a few previous posts on brushes that will be helpful to review:

• Brush Basics
• Brushes – Beyond the Basics

Let’s get started on making a .png file into a brush. You will need a photo editing program that supports brush (abr.) format. Photoshop Elements, Photoshop, and Paint Shop Pro are all good examples of programs that work with brushes. I currently use Photoshop Elements 7 so I will show you the steps in that program.

I am going to use a piece of word art from the Family Ties kit by Kristin Cronin-Barrow

Open the .png file you want to use in Photoshop Elements

Go to “Edit” then select “Define Brush”

I keep the name of the brush the same name as the file. My program automatically chooses that name for me.

Select OK to keep the name. Repeat this process with the other files you want to include in the brush set (I could do this with all word art in this kit if I wanted to). After the set is made go to “Edit” and select “Preset Manager”

Select all the brushes you want to include in the brush set by clicking on each one while holding the shift key at the same time (this is the way to select multiple files at once in many programs). Then choose “Save Set” and name your set accordingly. I used the name of the designer and kit.

At this point you will need to close Photoshop Elements and reopen it to fully load the brushes.

Here’s the layout I want to use the brush on

Still using the kit by Kristin. Template is by Yin.

With that layout open in Photoshop Elements select the brush tool from the left sidebar menu (toward the bottom right below the pink eraser). After selecting the brush tool, you will see the brush selection window visible in the options bar on the top of the screen.

Click on the arrow next to the top brush selection window in the options bar and find the brush you have created. Then just click on it and click on the area of your project where you want the brush.

For this layout, I just used the brush on the standard settings, except that I adjusted the size of the brush in the slider on the options bar. This is where you can have all sorts of fun so feel free to play around and try different modes and opacity settings.

And don’t worry if you “mess up” – just click on this little black triangle in the very top left corner to reset the tool.

Why use brushes?

• Brushes give your page a hand-stamped look
• Brushes can soften up a background, create a journaling space, or add visual interest and texture to a layout.
• There are loads of options for customizing brushes with different settings for many creative variations.
• Brushes are loaded right into your program so they are easier and quicker to find than looking through several files in your stash.

Have fun making and using brushes from .png files!

Many of our readers mentioned that they hope to start or keep a blog this year so they can share their projects such as Photo 365. Having a blog is a wonderful way to document the ongoing events and memories in daily life, and it comes in very handy later on when you are ready to recap those experiences on a scrapbook page. Last week in the first episode of the Paperclipping Roundtable podcast guest Stacy Julian talked about how there are many forms of scrapbooking these days (including blogging), and that every one of them “counts” (love that!) Blogging is simply another way to record your life experiences, and that certainly is an important form of memory keeping.

I (Katie) have been blogging nearly every single day since October of 2005, and now I’m a regular blogger here at The Daily Digi as well. I have discovered a lot of useful tips along the way to help me become a better blogger. Whether you are a long time veteran of the blog world, or you are hoping to start one in the future, I’m sure you will find something helpful in this post.

Getting Started:

• Find a site to host your blog. I would suggest you start with a free site like blogger to get the hang of it, unless you know you are opening a business related blog. Then you might want to hire some help getting a blog set up through wordpress or typepad that will integrate directly in with your own website. I have used all 3 of those services and feel comfortable recommending any of them. There are a lot of other options out there as well so you may want to do search on “blog hosts” if you are looking for something different.
• Decide on a purpose and a name for your blog. Of course you can change this later one if you want (it’s your blog) but it’s helpful to have an audience and a general direction in mind from the start. If the blog is for family and select friends then you are fine to keep your posts centered around the daily thoughts and doings of your life. If you are hoping for a larger audience, you will find more success in having a broader topic as well such as; reading, crafting, scrapbooking, baking, history, traveling, etc. Are you hoping to make money on your blog? (it’s not easy to do that!) Or do you just want a forum for sharing ideas and connecting with others. These are things to consider.
• Have a privacy plan. These tips also apply to posting photos and/or scrapbook pages on any online site. Don’t post information that would allow others to invade your privacy. Even on a family blog, you should never post your address (even in a picture of your house or mailbox). Be cautious about posting where your family works as well. Also, realize that everything that is put on the internet can stay there forever (even if you delete it) so be careful about bad-mouthing someone at work or sharing something really embarrassing. Of course a lot of these decisions are personal choices, but if you are blogging, chances are you would like at least one other person to enjoy what you are posting, so it helps to play nice and keep those you love comfortable and protected. If you are posting pictures and information about children, be especially careful since there are a few unsavory characters out there. Some sites do offer password protection for blogs. I have a password protected blog for my own immediate family, but I still follow the above guidelines. If something ever happened to the security of that blog, I won’t have to worry that I’ve given away to much specific information.

Creating and Keeping a Great Blog:

If you are going to take the time to post to a blog, you might as well make it something to be proud of. While you can customize your blog any way you want, there are a few tips that will increase readability and make it more enjoyable for you and your readers.

• Busy backgrounds make it hard to read text and/or see the photos and content you are sharing. Another thing to avoid is light text on a dark background – it is very hard to read! Think of your blog as a giant scrapbook layout (or poster) that you are placing in front of someone and expecting them to read. Would you fill that page with a ton of blinking ads? Would you put all of your text on a wildly flowered background? Always keep the reader in mind (even if you are the only reader).
• Blog regularly. It doesn’t have to be every day, but if you blog twice and then don’t post anything for 2 months, don’t expect anyone to be interested in your blog. Unless you are a huge celebrity, people generally aren’t going to take the time to visit over and over in hopes that you might have blogged.
• Enable an RSS feed (your blogging program will have information on this). Be sure to make it a full feed so people can read posts in their readers. (See Steph’s post on subscribing to feeds) Some people think that by posting a partial feed it will force people to visit their website and click on ads. It just forces me to delete the feed because I don’t have time for that. Based on a recent poll on the epic edits photography blog, I have proof that I’m not alone in that opinion.
• Don’t steal. Don’t take someone else’s content and claim it as your own (or repost in your own words). It’s common blog etiquette to link back to where you found the original idea. Feel free to borrow inspiration from other bloggers though, it’s a compliment, just like scraplfiting is in our community. Just be sure to credit the source.

Make it Fun and Interesting:

• Share stories and experiences. One of the greatest things about reading blogs is finding out that others out there have the same joys and struggles.
• Post photos or images when possible. Make your blog visually interesting as well. You don’t have to be a professional photographer, but take a little time to learn about your camera and put some effort into capturing good photos. Explore the photography section here on The Daily Digi for tips and ideas. You may want to consider editing your photos a bit as well (here’s where those digital scrapbooking skills really pay off!) If you have ever seen a really spectacular photo on a blog, chances are it’s been tweaked a little in photoshop. That’s what great photographers do – they use the tools available to them to make their photographs shine. (Read about a simple trick Janet uses to make her photos and layouts really look great on the web using the Scott Kelby approach.)
• Be yourself. Don’t try to be something your not. Remember that a blog is another way to express yourself and document your life. Keep it real and you will be happier in the long run. So will your readers.

Finally, I just wanted to say how fun it is when you include links to your own Daily Digi inspired projects on your own blogs (or in forums). It’s so fun to see what YOU are creating with the amazing kits available each month in The Digi Files! Thanks for all your support and inspiration!

Katie and I will be presenting a beginning digital scrapbooking workshop at The Casual Blogger Conference this spring.  If you are a blogger or would like to start a blog, you would enjoy this conference.  Here’s what the site says about the conference:

“The Casual Blogger Conference was born late one night, when we were lamenting the fact that we couldn’t go to those big conferences. We’re “just the mommy blogger” we thought, and we will never fit in with all those famous people, and we don’t have much to offer.

We realized that there were probably a lot of other people just like us who wanted to learn more about their favorite hobby, but just couldn’t justify the expense–the ticket, the babysitters, the hotels– and were a little intimidated by the whole idea.

We understand the power of the casual blogger. They stay home with their kids. They juggle a full time job and soccer practice. Sometimes they’re married, sometimes they’re not.

But they ALL find time to fit blogging into their lives.”

You can read more about the purpose, the services they will be offering,  and the really cool facilities on their site.

The Casual Blogger Conference is giving away one pass to a lucky Daily Digi reader.  Leave them a comment in this post telling them why you want to go to the conference by Monday at midnight EST.  A random winner will be chosen from the comments and posted on Tuesday!

P.S. Congratulations to Candice W. who is our random GIFTaway winner she was chosen from those that have purchase THE DIGI FILES so far this month!! Candice won a $10 gift certificate to Digital Design Essentials, check your email Candice!

Digital scrapbooking has so many perks and advantages to enjoy, especially in the areas of space-saving benefits and great portability. The extended use of a computer can cause some ergonomic issues however; specifically stresses and strains on the back, the neck area, arms, and wrists. Even legs and feet can suffer if you sit for too long. Anyone who uses a computer will benefit from following a few tips to stay healthy, and digital scrapbookers will find their creating time to be much more productive and enjoyable if they are careful to work in an ergonomic environment.

What is the right way to work at a computer? This is not an easy question to answer as it may be different for everyone. I (Katie) have learned through a lot of trial and error that certain chairs, tables, and sitting positions can easily wreak havoc on my body and end up causing me a great deal of pain. I have a few tricks that I have learned as well as some great links to share with you to help you feel healthier and happier while you are working on your computer:

• Screen level – Pay attention to your posture. If you are slumped over, or straining in any way, your body will pay the price for it. I was so excited to get a laptop computer, but I soon found that I was hunching over to see the screen. One of the big advantages of a desktop monitor is that you can adjust the screen height to be closer to level with your eyes. I found that using a laptop stand for a good portion of my computer time has helped ease my neck strain. The laptop stand is something I picked up at Costco, but I know you can find them at just about any office store. This does cut down on my portability, but I can also lift my laptop out at any time and move to another location.The ideal setting for a screen is within your line of vision (and slightly tipped back is even better). See this link at office-ergo.com for a full range of tips like this one.

• Mouse & Keyboard – My laptop stand also came with an extra wireless keyboard. With as much typing as I do, this comes in very handy for me.  I wouldn’t be able to type on the laptop while it was on the stand. Our family desktop computer has a cushioned and curved keyboard which is even more comfortable for lengthy typing sessions (once you get used to it). The biggest key to comfort when using a mouse or a keyboard is having adequate wrist support. Your wrist should be straight and not feel strain when you are working. Some people find that a wrist rest cushion really helps. I actually have to wear a brace to keep my wrist from hurting. I injured my wrist by tearing about 400 fabric strips for a church project and it has never been the same since. If I wear my brace though, I don’t have any problems.

One of the most frequent complaints from digital scrapbookers is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This can get very serious and require an extended break from the computer (gasp!) and even surgery (double gasp!) so this is something to take seriously. Women are much more likely to suffer from Carpal Tunnel. After browsing through some online forums, I found some innovative computer mouse designs meant to help with Carpal Tunnel symptoms. Logitech has a Track-Man wheel mouse and Evoluent specializes in ergonomic equipment. Many digital scrapbookers swear by the pen and tablet system over using a mouse so that might be a good option to explore as well.

• The right chair – I have tried several different chairs over the years and I found one at Office Max a few years ago on clearance that seems to give me the right amount of cushioning and back support. It is not an expensive chair, but it works for me. I can’t work sitting at our dining room table because the chairs don’t have arms and the table height is uncomfortable. The very worst position for me is sitting at a high counter or bar. When my legs are not resting on the ground, I end up with a lot of knee pain. My back also suffers in high chairs. I need to have back support so a stool would not work for me. I would encourage you to pay attention to your own body’s signals when determining what chair and table combination works for you. The chair doesn’t have to cost a lot, but you usually will do better if you invest in a nicer chair instead of using a folding chair. If money is not an object, you might want to check out Herman Miller. They are supposed to be the most amazingly comfortable work chairs!

• What about the couch? If you are like me, you want to move around a bit. One of the best things about having a laptop is that I can sit and watch tv with my kids or hubby and edit photos. The best thing to pay attention to is making sure your back and arms are supported. Prop up a few pillows on each side of yourself to create some arm rests. Make sure your back feels comfortable and supported. You might want to consider using a portable lap table to keep the heat from the laptop away from your legs. I still use a cordless mouse wherever I sit because the touchpad causes me wrist and finger pain.

• Take breaks – Medical experts agree that the best thing you can do to avoid repetitive stress injuries is to be cautious about not overdoing it. Our bodies are not built to do only a few movements over and over. Variety in movement, and taking regular breaks will extend the life of your muscles and joints.

Each person will find that they have different needs so be sure to pay attention to what works for you. I also asked some of our team members if they had any advice on this topic and here is what they said:

Jacki -Oh, dear, I need to do better at this. I do have a really good office chair that swivels so I can lean forward and backward as needed and my screen is big so I don’t have to be quite so close to the computer. I rest my feet on a box so they don’t swell up (I don’t have air conditioning and it gets really hot!). I also use a cordless mouse so I can move it around as I sit in different positions.

Steph – I have a bad back and my husband was convinced it was caused by me sitting on my couch (I sit in the recliner part, with my feet up…lol). The Physical Therapist said that sitting in the recliner would actually be better for my back than sitting hunched over at a table or desk.  I have since found this to be true, sitting with my feet up relieves a lot of the pressure on my back.

Janet - I found that changing the height of my chair made a huge difference.  My mouse arm was getting really sore and once I raised my chair so that my arm goes with gravity — so that it is above the desk rather than at the same height, I feel much better.
I know a lot of people choose to use a tablet…I could never really get into them. I should though…maybe I wouldn’t have a callous on my hand where my hand hits my desk 

For some wonderful resources on how to create an ergonomic work space, be sure to check out the following links:

• cdc gov ergonomics
• office ergomonics training
• Cornell University ergonomics web
• OSHA

P.S. Kelly is our winner in today’s GIFTaway.  She was randomly chosen from the comments left in yesterday’s post about Michelle’s products, here’s what she said:  “I’m a long time Michelle fan too! I have to agree with everyone that the Vintage Holiday Memories kit would be my first choice but right behind that would be the Trendy kit. I really enjoyed the sample layouts using Michelle’s kit too! Thanks again you guys!”

Thanks Kelly and thanks to everyone who is taking time to submit comments, we read them all and truly appreciate it!!