Well, we have just entered the hottest part of the year. The dog- days of August will soon be upon us. I hope that a lot of you will be escaping to the mountains or the beach to cool off this time of year. I know it will make it a lot easier to bear.
We just stick to the pool alot around here.
I also have the priviledge to announce the arrival of one of our former blinkie maker's new baby.
Sarah (Sapphire) had a healthy baby boy. Congratulations Sarah from all of us here at Graphic Central.

We hope that you have enjoyed your Summer names and I know we will soon be looking forward to doing
Fall ones soon enough for everyone.
Thank you for being patient with us as we have gone on vacation one at a time. I know that it backs up requests
sometimes and causes a short wait. I appreciate your patience.
There will also be a small change in our Custom Signature forum. We are still working out the details but be on the lookout for a post soon explaining the new guidelines.

I hope you will stop by Graphic Central for a Blinkie, Glitter or Custom Siggy soon. Our talented artists are here to help you create something that will reflect you and that you will be proud to show off.



Each month, a host here at Graphic Central with share an aspect that they do here with everyone. Sometimes it will be challenging and sometimes it will be easier to follow. But I'm sure it will always be interesting
to learn. This month our tutorial is by Pamela (PamelaT), host of Blinkies and Signatures.

Adding a border to a Picture

Here is the original image


First thing to do is to click "Image" on the toolbar at the top. Then, click "Add Borders". Now choose how much of a border you would like. I chose 7 (make sure the symmetric box is checked). Your screen should look like this.


Now copy & paste the image to a new canvas. Now add a shadow to really make it stand out. You do this by clicking "Effects, then 3D Effects, & finally "Drop Shadow" after you chose your settings click ok & you're done! You may crop it if you like to take out any extra canvas you have. The finished product should look something like this.




Our Get-To-Know-You question this month is what is your favorite Summer Olympic sport? Please all hosts answer this on the Community Leaders board and remember to leave your P&P email address so you get your points. Thanks.



Earn points. Win prizes.

It sounds easy because it is! You can earn points to win fabulous prizes -- like movie and TV show DVDs, CDs, gift cards, books, calendars, planners, beauty products, magazine subscriptions and much more -- by becoming a Points & Prizes member!

Want to know more?

Here's how it works:

Get free points by visiting web sites
You'll have lots of chances to find point codes throughout our partners' web sites. You can pick up even more points by subscribing to and reading email newsletters, entering contests and doing other easy, everyday things.

Redeem your points for a variety of prizes
Our prize box is regularly updated with all kinds of new goodies you can "buy" with your points.


It's free to join, and registration is fast and easy. Sign up here!



Aug 1st - Respect For Parents' Day, Sport's Day
Aug 2nd - National Mustard Day, National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
Aug 3rd - American Family Day, National Watermelon Day
Aug 4th - Australia Picnic Day, National Guard Day
Aug 6th - Wiggle Your Toes Day
Aug 7th - Sea Serpent Day
Aug 8th - Dollar Day
Aug 9th - National Rice Pudding Day
Aug 10th - S'Mores Day
Aug 11th - Play in the Sand Day
Aug 12th - Middle Children's Day
Aug 13th - International Left-Hander's Day, National Filet Mignon Day
Aug 14th - National Creamsicle Day
Aug 15th - National Relaxation Day
Aug 16th - International Homeless Animals Day, National Tell A Joke Day, Roller Coaster Day
Aug 18th - Bad Poetry Day
Aug 19th - National Aviation Day, Potato Day
Aug 20th - National Radio Day, Mosquito Day
Aug 22nd - Be An Angel Day
Aug 23rd - National Sponge Cake Day
Aug 24th - National Peach Pie Day, International Strange Music Day, National Waffle Day
Aug 25th - Kiss and Make Up Day, National Banana Split Day
Aug 26th - Women's Equality Day
Aug 28th - Dream Day
Aug 30th - National Toasted Marshmallow Day
Aug 31st - National Trail Mix Day

Special Goings-On
Friendship Day (1st Sunday)
National Clown Week (1st Week)
Elvis Week (2nd Week)
National Apple Week (2nd Week)
National Smile Week (2nd Week)
Air Conditioning Appreciation Week (3rd Week)
American Dance Week (3rd Week)
American Artist Appreciation Month
Foot Health Month
Home Business Month
National Catfish Month
National Golf Month
National Inventors Month
National Water Quality Month



Easy Raspberry Trifle

1 box Betty Crocker® white angel food cake mix
1 1/4 cups cold water
2 cups boiling water
1 box (8-serving size) sugar-free raspberry-flavored gelatin
2 packages (10 oz each) frozen sweetened raspberries, thawed
3 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait® Original red raspberry yogurt

1. Move oven rack to lowest position (remove other racks). Heat oven to 350°F.
2. In extra-large glass or metal bowl, beat cake mix and cold water on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium speed 1 minute. Pour into ungreased 10-inch angel food (tube) cake pan. Do not use fluted tube cake pan or 9-inch angel food (tube) cake pan, or batter will overflow.
3. Bake 37 to 47 minutes or until top is dark golden brown and cracks feel very dry and not sticky. Do not underbake.
4. Immediately turn pan upside down onto glass bottle until cake is completely cool, about 1 hour. Run knife around edges; remove from pan. Tear cake into about 3/4-inch pieces.
5. Pour boiling water on gelatin in large bowl; stir until gelatin is dissolved. Add raspberries. (If desired, remove several raspberries and reserve for garnish.) Refrigerate gelatin mixture about 15 minutes or until thickened but not set.
6. Layer half each of the cake pieces, gelatin mixture and yogurt in 3-quart glass bowl; repeat. Garnish with reserved raspberries. Refrigerate at least 2 hours until firm. Cover and refrigerate any remaining dessert.



Sand Mosaics

This beach project is a sort of natural version of glitter designs -- except unlike glitter, your supply of sand is practically inexhaustible.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Scissors
Black construction paper
Shoe box lid
White glue
Sand
Assorted seashells

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
Sand Mosaics 1. Cut a sheet of construction paper so that it fits inside the box lid -- this will be the portable canvas.

2. To make a picture, draw with the tip of the glue bottle, then sprinkle on loose sand.

3. Once the sand is dry, shake off the excess by gently tapping the side of the lid.

4. For added detail, glue on shells, pebbles, sea glass or any other not-too-aromatic finds.



We thought maybe you might have a question about something that goes on here at Graphic Central. We have lots of forums here...Photography, Signature Fun-which includes, Blinkies, Glitter Names and Custom Signatures and Graphics. The hosts have added tutorials in each category if you would like to learn any of these graphics arts. Please read through the tutorials and have a go at it. And please show us what you make. We'd love to see. We are also very open to having volunteers and/or Hosts in our requests forums. Please inquire within about becoming a volunteer if you know how to make blinkies, glitters, siggies or graphics of any kind. If you have any other questions, something you would like to know about any of these fields, please let us know and we will give you the answer in the following newsletter next month. Just leave us a post.