Squidoo News

Archive for April, 2010

Wisconsin is getting some much needed rain, which is making me think about what I’m finally going to do my lawn. For years I’ve thought about designing a garden, but my two black thumbs have kept me from truly digging in. But with the help of this excellent lens from GonnaFly, I’m finally going to do it!

Raised Bed Vegetable Garden is a start-to-finish guide for building and maintaining a raised garden bed. Learn the pros and cons of raised beds, how to build them, how to plant for maximum efficiency, and how to organize your produce. Browse through beautiful garden photos, planting patterns, and example videos that show how gardeners from as far as Lesotho, Africa are putting the raised bed design to good use.

With so many excellent resources in one place, it’s hard not to get the urge to play in the dirt.

http://www.squidoo.com/Raised-bed-vegetable-garden

Nominated by hlkljgk. Love a lens? Let us know: lotd@squidoo.com

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When she became a Giant, hardworking lensmaster bethd821 had one wish – to be selected for LOTD. Granted! Mother’s Day is just 10 days away, and Beth is showing us how to celebrate with Celebrating Mothers on Mother’s Day.

Beth has achieved three goals in this lens:
1. She’s designed an attention-getting holiday lens.
2. She’s successfully monetized it with dozens of beautiful gift options.
3. She’s made it inviting with personal stories and holiday histories.

Beth has also used this opportunity to showcase her handcrafted Zazzle creations and spread the word about her business. Here’s to you, moms!

http://www.squidoo.com/celebrating-mothers

Nominate a lens YOU wish would be LOTD. lotd@squidoo.com is the magic address. And visit us on Facebook.

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Drag out the construction paper, and break out the paint. It’s time for some crafts with the kids!

Crafty lensmaster Ladydove62 has put together today’s colorful LOTD with dozens of ideas for keeping the kids occupied this spring. Spring Fun Crafts for Kids is a collection of fun crafts that can be modified for age levels, motor skill abilities, and even holidays and seasons.

Not only is this a great resource for parents and caretakers, the kids will enjoy the colorful project photos, simple video instructions, and dozens of examples.  They’ll have fun reading and following online directions.  Make this Wednesday night family craft night. Who knows. This week: handpainted flowerpots. Next week: their very own lenses?

http://www.squidoo.com/spring-fun-crafts-for-kids

Nominated by . Send your favorite crafty lens to lotd@squidoo.com

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I’ll be away from my computer for a few days so we’re bringing you the latest lenses to be awarded Purple Stars a little early this week.

Here’s this week’s Purple Star Lenses:

Kabetogama Lake a Wilderness “God’s Country”

Miss Columbus Day

Sinful Chocolate Cake Recipes

Cosmic Art

Who is Lee Hansen?

Nuthatches

How to Decorate Horse Cupcakes

Texas Sheet Cake Brownies

The World of Woolly Doughnut

Who is Bruno Tonioli?

Save Planet Earth

Lensmaster Tools and Utilities

Top Ten “Make Your Own Products Recipes”

Football Themed Cakes and Cupcakes

Learning Your Senior Cat Has Cancer

Know Your German Shepherd

Going Barefoot – A Free Way to Enjoy Life

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and into New Opportunities

Local Writer’s Associations of America

Homework: How Much is Too Much?

Not sure if a Giant Squid lens you’ve found is Purple Star worthy?

If a lens makes you think EVERYONE should read it, or if you think the lens is really creative, or if you publish a lens you’d be proud to show your high school English teacher;  NOMINATE IT!

You’ll know it when you see it!
And when you see it,  please take a moment to send it to purplestar@squidoo.com

And to those of you who were honored with a Purple Star this week why not pay the good feeling forward by nominating another Giant’s worthy lens for a Purple Star?

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As we’ve done before, it’s time to update the old ‘Min’ (or, Minimized) lens layout to the most recent and most optimized ‘Max’ lens layout. Min is very outdated by now and has gotten pretty difficult to support. Once Min has been upgraded it will match Max in every way.  This helps for performance, reduces bugs and generally streamlines features and user experience.

All the various advertising opt-outs we’ve provided on Max lenses will still work.

As we go forward, and Squidoo starts experimenting on new lens layouts and sidebar structures again, Min will once again become the safe haven for lenses that would rather opt out from future Max improvements.

There is actually nothing you need to do, we just wanted to let you know that if you do have any lenses you’ve ‘minimized’ they will be upgraded to match Max in the next day or so.  Everyone, regardless of max or min setting, is encouraged to review this lens about the various ads we run on lenses and how you can opt-out from some of them (or why you might want to keep the ads turned on!).

And if you have absolutely no clue what I’m talking about, never fear, this is really inside baseball stuff and chances are good you can carry on and /ignore!

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Like hearts and stars and four leaf clovers, rainbows have turned into somewhat of a cliche icon to represent happiness and relief. But newcomer LKW31 is giving us a chance to look at rainbows in a whole new light with The Wonder of Rainbows.

Not only will you read amazing facts about rainbow science and see amazing photographs, LKW31 has filled this lens with a variety of modules, has broken up text with relevant photos, and has used interactive modules to encourage readers to participate. That makes this lens a three point win!

LKW31 has only been on Squidoo for two months but we can’t wait to see what crops up next on her lens list!

http://www.squidoo.com/rainbow-science

Nominated by skiesgreen. Nominate a science lens at lotd@squidoo.com

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“Squidoo is a family of friends and companions who are creative, informed and generous. They mostly spread their talents around free of charge and they give value to others through support, help and encouragment as well as the wonderful knowledge and information they impart through their work.

But not everyone starts out that way. In my experience many come into it with some hesitation. It looks big and almost frightening until you get inside and meet some of the folks who quickly show you that they are on your side. They don’t want or expect anything from you except to see you stick around and produce some great lenses.

When starting out as a new Squid many may have little or no internet experience. Others are all too knowing and want to bombard the place with their offers in an effort to influence and/or make sales from the members. But mostly new Squids, as they are called, are here for the fun and enjoyment of producing something with the least amount of effort or cost and, in turn, to feel good inside.

On the top right of some lenses stands a giant’s badge and a yellow star inviting you to find out more about the author. They show that these lensmasters produced 50 good quality lenses that are original in content and worth reading. When they repeat that effort they may get a 100 Club badge which boosts them up even further,

The thrill of receiving notification that you have made the grade is out of this world. It sent shivers through me and brought a tear to my eye. Of course it is hard work, but so is everything that is worthwhile.

As the thrill of that award begins to fade there may come another quick on its heels. It could be a purple star for one of your lenses. These are only given to giants and they mean that you have excelled as so few are given each week and only around 1000 for the year. Wow, you have made something really out of the box and now you get that purple star on the lens to prove it.

No sooner does that thrill begin to fade when another unexpected email tells you that a lens you have created has been chosen as the Lens of the Day. But you don’t have to be a giant to get that award. It can be given to anyone at any time for an outstanding lens. There  are only 365 of these given in a year and some recipients have less than ten or so lenses under their belt when they get it.

What it amounts to is this. Squidoo is a place of friendship, help and encouragement. It is a place to hang out and many hardly ever leave, except to sleep. The lenses you build can be promoted outside of Squidoo through social sites, articles, email lists, blogs, traffic exchanges, forums and so on. They also get listed in Search Engines and if keywords are good enough they bring more traffic and also more sales if you are offering products, either your own or as an affiliate..

As you grow in status within Squidoo you make friends and help others in the same way that you were helped. Many ask your advice or send thank you notes to your email. Others ask if you need help to accomplish something. Whatever it is you are never alone wothin this family. That’s why there are over a million or more lenses produced in here by enthusiastic authors many of whom, like me, can’t imagine life without it.

Squidoo is possibly the best place to hang out on the Net. With the encouragement given you  begin writing on subjects you never thought possible and the great tools offered free on site make the lenses you create ourstanding in color, theme, design and presentation.. By the way a lens is simply a view of something though your eyes for others to enjoy.”

~Norma Holt aka SkiesGreen

Lensography of Norma Holt

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Movies are famous for being quoted, and as it turns out, misquoted. But California_Dreamin is setting the record straight with today’s LOTD, Famous Misquotes.

I only cried a little when I learned that some of my favorite quotes were never actually spoken or written. No more “I want to suck your blood” jokes during vampire movies. Besides getting the true story behind your favorite famous misquotes, you’ll also learn how language changes have altered our interpretation of some quotes, and how leaving lines out can totally reverse the meaning of a story.

Do you also possess a knack for weird trivia? Turn that knowledge into a lens! It’s “Elementary, my dear Watson.”

http://www.squidoo.com/famous_misquotes

Nominate your trivia lens at lotd@squidoo.com

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Today’s Weekend Workshop LOTD shares some tips for being a good Squid. It’s true that most of “Squid Etiquette” is common sense. Being polite, not saying mean things, etc. But knowing what to do in certain situations can be tricky, especially if you’re new to the overall online experience.

For example, is it ok to share links?
Ask for ratings?
How do you critique a lens?
What can you say in a guestbook?
Can you email lenses to friends?

Join lensmaster AJ2008 to learn more about the ins and outs of proper Squid Etiquette. When we’re all nice, we all win!

http://www.squidoo.com/squid_etiquette

Nominate a Weekend Workshop LOTD at lotd@squidoo.com

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