Generally photos look best on photo paper. We like the glossy photo cardstock and buy Office Depot brand in the 100 piece box when they have it on sale. Only drawback is that you can't print on the back (matte finish) side - the ink never dries! :( So for greeting cards I use a seperate piece of paper with the inside message printed on it and glue it inside. You can also get prescored cardstock in glossy and matte finish for cards. What I used had a "peel and stick" strip for attaching the message sheet. Brochure paper might be another option for greeting cards. Heavier than regular paper and can be printed both sides, it comes in glossy and matte finish. Your printer and its settings will determine the outcome so you will need to experiment with different papers and settings to see which work best on your printer. Jill

I totally have a thing for these baskets! Still kicking myself 5 years later for not buying one in a flea market...made with vintage cards, had another row of card pieces and had a hinged lid that matched the base. It was crocheted together instead of simple lacing. Your instructions and photos are wonderful! I want to make these for holidays next year...what a great basket to put homemade gifts in! thanks, Red! Karen

Thanks, MaryAnn, Minnie, and Lorraine. Although Mom hasn't recognized any relatives in years, she is still able to read. I don't know how much she understands of what she reads, but at least she still can read. Alzheimer's is such a mysterious (and devastating) disease.

Stephenei: What got me hooked was a section on home made cards in a Feb issue of either MM or CK magazine. And I REALLY got hooked! Card making has replaced (for the time being) scraping. As for ideas, I got some from the aforementioned magazine, some from looking at cards in card shops, and some from my own imagination. ItÂs amazing what creative creatures we can be when doing something we enjoy! One idea for an Easter card came from a quote I found onlineÂÂGive hugs, if you carrot at all! My sonÂs best friend calls me ÂAunt Carront, so I made a little card out of lime green card stock. I made three little carrots out of orange and brown card stock and cut thin strips of dark green card stock for grass. I attached the grass and the carrots to the front of the card with pop dots (for the 3D effect) and outlined the edges of the front of the card with thin strips of orange card stock. I made one large carrot for the inside to hold the latter part of the quote. It turned out to be a cute card and the idea came after seeing the quote. Other ideas come from looking through my materials and Âplaying with them,Âi.e., seeing what goes together. IÂve never scanned anything for use on the computer, but if you like, IÂd be happy to try and scan and post-to-you some of the cards I made to help you get started with ideas. I know what itÂs like to feel like...where do the ideas come from?! And once you get started, believe me, thereÂs no stopping!!!!!!! Also, some others have posted about tea-bag/paper folding which I have tried yet. As Sally said, when your scraping and stamping, the ideas just seem to flow. p.s. there are also books on card making and paper projects. My husband gave me one for a present and one was referenced in the magazine that I have been looking for but have yet to find. Hope this helps. karen