New Online Photo Editor

Rollip is a new site offering a simple online photo editing tool. You can convert your photo in a variety of ways and do so in two formats, either Polaroid, or regular size. The effects include various sepia tones, soft focus, and neon effect. Using the site is simple, just click on the image of the effect you want, and follow the instructions to upload your photo.

I tried out the editor on this photo

And converted it to a Polaroid as well as gave it a vintage look as you can see at left.

If you choose to make your photo into a Polaroid, you also have the option of adding text or decorations to the edges of the image as shown

Once the transformation is complete you have the following options

1. Download your photo

2. Share a direct link in email, on a website or in instant messaging

3. Share the photo in e-mail, on Facebook, MySpace or a variety of other social media websites

If you use Flickr, you can also share your Rollip creations in the Rollip group.

I quite like this site and can see myself converting a variety of photos. it’s simple and quick. My main reservation is with regards to the file sizes of the converted photos which are quite small (less than 100K in some cases, and only 400 pixels wide). I haven’t had a chance to print them out to see the quality, but according to the site you should be able to print the photos out.

I also would like it if the different conversions were given names, so that it would be easier to distinguish between them. Also suggestions as to what kind of photos work well with each conversion would be useful. But with a little time and trial and error I think that anyone can get neat effects on their favourite photos!

Click here to go to Rollip to try it out!

Hanukkah is a great reason to pull out your cross stitch fabric and thread and stitch up some fun seasonal cross stitch patterns.

If you have trouble spelling Hanukkah (I know I do!) you’ll want to stitch up the How Do You Spell… project from SKB Cross Stitch Design. This one includes a bunch of different ways to spell the holiday, along with some symbols like a dreidel and menorah. (Technically I think all the ways to spell it are “correct.”) The pattern includes full, fractional and bask titches, and measures 8.5 by 7 inches, or 21.6 by 17.8 cm. It has the date for 2004/5785 but you can easily change the year or leave that part off.

Another project with some fun word play is the Words to Live By chart from Sam Brie Stitches. This one includes Hanukkah related symbols and word presented crossword puzzle style, which is fun to stitch and to display. The design uses 10 colors and measures 74 by 103 stitches. It’s shown worked on 18 count fabric.

I may have shared these before, but the Hanukkah patterns from the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery are so cute they’re definitely worth sharing again. Happy Hanukkah features a menorah, dreidels, gelt, stars and candles, and it fits in a 6-inch hoop. At 75 by 75 stitches, it comes out to 5.4 inches/13.4 cm on 14 count Aida or 28 count linen. They also have this cute little dreidel stamp cross stitch pattern, which is 39 by 49 stitches, or 2.8 by 3.5 inches (about 7 by 9 cm) on 14 count Aida or 28 count linen.

Works By ABC has a lot of great patterns for Hanukkah, but here are just a couple to get you started. The Rules for Dreidel design is fun for kids and adults and shows the different sides of the dreidel and what it means when you land on them. The stitch count is 62 by 94 and its shown worked on 32 count linen. It calls for three colors. I also like this menorah one, which measures 44 by 49 stitches and uses two colors along with coordinating seed beads. On 32 count linen as shown (equivalent to 16 count Aida) it measures 2.75 by 3.1 inches, or almost 7 by 7.8 cm.

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