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Angela's Blog
You make amazing possible.
(Why I think that together, we can create anything.)
by Angela LoSasso
May 9, 2008

Crafting with HP at Maker Faire!


We had a blast crafting with HP Community Members and making new friends at the HP booth during Maker Faire last weekend.
Watch the video to get a glimpse of the feel-good vibe and to see that family fun is as close as your home printer:



Although Maker Faire wrapped up last week, you can still take advantage of special discounts on two HP printers that will give you stunning results for crafting:

HP rebate
Save $70 on the HP Photosmart Pro 8350. This baby prints 12x12 scrapbook pages with ease, and prints photos up to 13x19 inches. This Maker Faire offer is good only if purchased between May 3 and June 14, 2008.


Save $50 on the HP Photosmart C6280 All-in-One printer. If you want versatility, ease-of-use, and great photo printing at home, then look no further. With the Photosmart C6280, you can switch between 4x6 photos and regular documents without needing to put down your cup of coffee because there's no need to swap out paper. Plus, All-in-One functionality means you can print, scan, fax and copy with one machine, saving you valuable desk space. And with the special Maker Faire offer, you're saving some cold hard cash. HP Rebate




I hope you have a great weekend -- I'll be busy making Mother's Day cards using the Spring Bloom Crafty Card from the HP Activity Center template we shared at Maker Faire.

» See our Maker Faire Gallery
» Check out our Kung Fu Panda Gallery
» Visit our HP.com Maker Faire collection of projects, special offers and more

May 3, 2008

Join us at Maker Faire!

HP and Maker Faire

The HP Community team is so excited to be at Maker Faire San Mateo this weekend. We hope you’ll stop by and craft with us in our Expo Hall booth. We’ll be sharing some fabulous creations using the Activity Center’s free artwork (the same projects you can download and make with your printer at home, including scrapbooking, 3D decorations, fabric arts, and more).

Kung Fu Panda Photo OpportunityPlus, we’ll have a very special guest with us this weekend. Stop by the booth and get a free photo taken with Po, the star of DreamWorks’ upcoming movie "Kung Fu Panda".

We’re also giving away free projects, special discounts of up to $70 on HP Photosmart printers that deliver stunning results for crafting and scrapbooking, and a free CD of Kung Fu Panda activities (including instructions on how to do "The Panda").

Whether you join us in the booth or from home, we hope you’ll enjoy Maker Faire with HP:
» See our Maker Faire Gallery
» Check out our Kung Fu Panda Gallery
» Visit our HP.com Maker Faire collection of projects, special offers and more 		HP rebate HP Rebate


April 22, 2008

The Circle of Love (Why Sharing is Good)

Three brothers. Three sisters. Although I had no other option, I did learn that it’s good to share.

And so have lots of you. And for that we’re giving away free Original HP supplies to the following members of the HP Community Wiki for sharing their ideas, crafts, tips, and time.

PC Smart’s Sandbox
Check out PC Smart’s creative scanning and printing page and her blog to pick up some crafts, projects and printing and scanning tips you can start using today, including:
An Apron a Day’s Recipes
An Apron a Day's Recipes You know how you sometimes have to look all over the pantry to find the good stuff? Sometimes this Wiki is the same way. (We’re working on improving that!).
An Apron a Day's Recipes Have you seen the mouth-watering filenames attached to the An Apron A Day’s Recipe’s page? I’m talking about stuff that you beg your mom or grandma to make:
  • A 345-Year Oldy But a Goody Pot Roast Recipe
  • Uddely Delicious Ice Cream
  • My Big Fat Greek Salad

Thanks for sharing.
We’re sending some Original HP Supplies love your way!


April 15, 2008

What do you want to see, do, watch, learn, or change?

I started a thread last week: Tell us how we can make this community better.

Haven't received a comment yet. Not one suggestion. Not one complaint.

And I'm quite sure that has more to do with the time required to make suggestions than it does that there aren't any suggestions for improvements. (Afterall, my list of ideas and wants is about as long as my arm.)

So let me make it easier for you to send a message anonymously: Please vote in the poll to the right.

Got something more specific to suggest?

Please share it here or in our discussion forum. Chances are someone else in the community would like to add or change the same thing, and we'd really appreciate hearing it from you directly.

Either way, I hope you make your voice heard. And I'll be sure to share the results -- both here and in updated pages on the HP Community Wiki.

Thanks!
April 8, 2008

Go green with HP!

Earth Day is just 2 weeks away (Tuesday, April 22nd). But you don’t have to wait to do something good for our environment. You can start today and have fun and feel good about doing it.

Earth-friendly Crafts
For example, use your creative skills to make Earth-friendly crafts that encourage green-living and recycling all year ‘round.
I'd also like to share these eco-friendly tips and HP environmental programs that you can take advantage of -- you don't have to be an HP customer or own an HP product to do so. (Most of this info has been previously published on HP.com.)

Re-use equipment
You can also make a difference by encouraging re-use of your used equipment (be sure to take action and protect your personal identity first):
  • If you recently upgraded to a new printer or computer, give your used equipment to your kids or another family member
  • Check with local schools and non-profit organizations to see if they accept technology donations
  • Sell your old equipment – to a neighbor, through classifieds, or online venues such as Ebay


Recycle ink cartridges, printers and more
If you can’t re-use or sell your equipment, recycle it.
  • HP offers free HP inkjet or LaserJet cartridge recycling. Check inside cartridge boxes for return materials (available for some products and countries). Simply place the empty cartridge in the postage-paid envelope provided and mail back to HP
  • HP’s Planet Partners program accepts all brands of computing, printing, and multifunction hardware for recycling
The HP Community Wiki Blog - Crafts, ideas and print projects
CD photo album

The HP Community Wiki Blog - Crafts, ideas and print projects
Ink cartridge recycling
HP recently reached its goal to recycle 1 billion pounds of printer and computer hardware. To learn more about how you can partner with HP to help us recycle 2 billion pounds by 2010 and save energy with your technology purchases, visit HP’s Global Citizenship report on product re-use and recycling.

Got a tip or recycling idea? Please share it here or in our discussion forum.
More from the
HP Community Wiki
» How to Wiki
» Discussion Forum
» Have you seen this page yet?
» See Angela's Profile
» Add comment


My Top 5 Member Projects:

» Repurpose a Freebie Tote
by pc smart
» Fancy Photo book (using digital scrapbooking techniques)
by MaryAnn Antonelli
» The Marlboro Man Sandwich
by Pioneer Woman
» The "All About Me Book" for kids
by Crafty Mom, Marcy O'Connell
» Bridal Shower Place Settings
by Sue Martin
Tip: Check out our What’s New page to see the latest stuff being shared by other members.

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Opinions expressed here and in any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors, not of HP and may not have been reviewed in advance by HP.
April 6, 2008
Why the HP Activity Center and your ideas inspire me

I love the HP Activity Center. It makes crafts possible for someone like me.

  • My grandmother, at age 87, still knits and crochets.
  • My mother sews (and handmade most of my grade school wardrobe).
  • My first sister makes gift baskets (for what seems like every celebrity with a condo in Palm Springs).
  • My second sister, knits, crochets, quilts, and makes scrapbooks. (The list goes on. If we captured her life in a brag book, I'd go broke buying extra scrapbook pages from Michael's.)
  • My youngest sister has four kids and will eventually find time to craft when the youngest goes off to school. That said, she's very creative and has made some amazing photo albums and has decorated two homes.

Then there's me. I didn't get what I call the family "make" gene.

I am not exaggerating when I tell you that for years I thought I was a gypsy child adopted into my family. For example, while my sisters and mom receive "oohs" and "aahs" for wrapping their Christmas gifts with handmade bows and what seemed to me to be laser-cut paper and machine-precision folds, my gift-wrapped packages only needed the "to" line completed on the gift tag -- only Angela could make a package look like it was wrapped by the family dog, so putting my name next to "from" wasn't necessary. I swear.

Thank goodness for gift bags. They've saved me from ongoing humiliation.

For the past 2 years, the HP Activity Center has been my gift-bag equivalent for crafts. With projects ranging from easy print-and-go cards, books, and more to advanced digital scrapbooking that allow imaginative embellishments, even I can create crafts!

And now I have a new resource: this community. Your discussions, your tips, your crafts, your project ideas and your presence shared here in the HP Community Wiki is my new ongoing inspiration list -- a daily webinar of creative expression.

Thanks for sharing! I now have a healthy outlet for my craft envy.

PS: I invite you to share your ideas on how we can make this community better. Please add your thoughts to a new thread in the discussion forum.
April 2, 2008
Inspiration is everywhere

I've led an amazing life. (Actually, my life is quite similar to most people I know: I work and get a paycheck. I have bills that need to be paid. I have a family. The cats need to be fed. I need to eat less ice cream and instead be on a first-name basis with my treadmill. That kind of stuff...)

The "amazing" part of my life can be summarized this way:
  • I've been fortunate enough to travel to Europe, Asia and all over the United States, but home is still my favorite place to be.
  • I communicate for a living, but I learn something new about storytelling every day.
  • I've learned that "culture" is open to interpretation if you have an open mind.
  • I've met some incredibly talented people along the way.
  • People are more likely to be kind than not.
  • People will share their experience, their expertise, and their happiness if you let them.

And I suppose that's I why I find that life is amazing -- because for me, inspiration lives in everyday life and everyday people.
And it's why I especially find inspiration here in this community.
Thanks for your kindness.
Thanks for your crafts, your photos, your thoughts.
Thanks for sharing.
You make amazing possible.