Isn't this fun? That's how I got hooked on reverting photos to black and white or sepia, and then tinting them :D My photoshop has a lot of filters and gizmos....you can take a photo and turn it into an oil painting look. Something my daughter and son in law got me. There are a lot of free brushes out there to use in photoshop for adding visual effects, it's like having an ink stamp to add to the photo. Like adding clouds, or spiders and a web, or flowers. I took photos of my grandchildren, and added butterfly wings to each, and printed them out to a 4x6 size. Then I cut them out, and used glitter glue pens, and added some rhinestones here and there, and then made pixie jars, or fairy jars with them. Some were Christmas gifts last year, and the recipients LOVED them. There is a flicker candle in the lid, battery operated.

Dear Kellied, I have a ceramic tile counter top. I obtained an 18x18 sample slab of marble from my husband's company, placed rubber "feet" on it, and use it every time I knead bread, roll out dough, etc. It's great! Claudia

We are definitely into the countdown & I have started - my DH is in food sales and gives each of his customers gifts (about 40 of them!). I start right after Christmas & get gifts for the next year on clearance. Usually we give books, candles, and ornaments and I try and stay under $5 for each. I have started buying for family too - all the grands - kids & neices & nephews (all 20 of them) get books. I purchase from a catalog/website that has on sale & clearance - I try to find books under $5 (for the customers mentioned above also). If you want the name of the website please e-mail me. For our 4 kids we wait until we get a list from them. I have bought items off the list & then got their list and ended up spending too much! For brothers & sisters & immediate nieces & nephews - I make jam/jelly & they each get a jar of wonderful goodness - we grow the fruit & then I make jam & jelly for them. I am about 1/2 way done on that... I don't post all that often - but I enjoy lurking - what a wonderful group of people. Thanks.

I was going to suggest too, things to do on the trip on the plane to keep them busy. Small items and things when used up can get rid of so they aren't over burden with too much. Yes, check the library for an up to date book of Germany and they can check out what there is to see. Journals are excellent to have, light ones though and make sure you have pens extra in case of losing one pen. Or run out of ink. Make sure you have a good camera for all of you to use and take pictures of. Maybe a scrapbook for them to make up about their trip when they come home? The library may even have language tapes to listen, can check on that too. Check out travel sites for good ideas to bring and see with you all. Rick Steves? has travelled with his kids and wife all over and so he should have good ideas. I know the one thing he suggested on tv was with kids is that they carry their back bag and only what they can carry is all they can have in it so that way you aren't loaded down with huge suitcases which you do not want in those countries. You want to bring and be very light, so rehearse way ahead and everyone pack all they want to bring on their trips, see if they can carry their backpacks with it all in? What can be illiminated? What is really necessary. Or bring stuff that can be dumped over there and left behind. There is nothing worse then too much stuff and being a hinder and ruining a great trip. Also make sure everyone has good comfortable walking shoes to walk lots. Check weather if you need to bring umbrellas or not or what? Less is better remember so check it all out ahead of time.