This issue SmartFlix is all about festive, charitable, and creatively exotic crafting. We’re bringing you two really cool featured craft ideas along with some other highlights from our outstanding DVD collection.

• TOP SIX - Asian Painting & Printing DVDs: Expand your artistic know-how and try something different by experiencing some of our really awesome Asian Painting how-to’s. This would make beautiful additions to any decor and would also make really thoughtful (and economical) gifts this holiday season.
• A Terrifyingly Good Cause - Haunted House for Charity: Get an early start on the season of giving, support your favorite cause, and enjoy tons really fun craft projects. You can make this as big or as small as you’d like. Even if you don’t want to accept donations for your open house of terror, you are still giving the gift of Boo to all of the neighborhood kids and kids at heart! Get creative with us today!

As always we really want to hear from you so drop us an e-mail or send us your pics to marketing@SmartFlix.com and tell us what you’ve been up to. Your project could be featured in next month’s newsletter!

The FlowerGod Series

Rent one or all of this 5-disk DVD set. Each DVD has 8 distinct floral designs - everything from simple Fall arrangements to beautifully intricate wedding designs. There is even a DVD devoted to the art of Luau floral arrangement! Oh the possibilities! Rent one of these DVDs today and bring some beauty into your home.

Photographing Your Artwork

This DVD will answer questions like: Which camera should you use to get the desired result (small format, large format, film, digital), how do you properly measure the light, which exposure settings should you use, how do you eliminate glare? Learn everything you need to know about both photographing possible scenes to paint as well as capturing your finished work to share with friends or for profit!

Fold It: Beyond Traditional Origami

The Hot holiday decorations for this season are origami ornaments and all the home goods stores like Pottery Barn are selling expensive pre-folded kits. Save your money, rent this video today, and start folding! Prepare yourself for compliments on your fashion forward holiday design!

The Basics of Picture Framing

After renting and painting your gorgeous Asian inspired works of art, you’re going to need to put them in a frame for gifting, right? This entertaining and informational one hour video provides a detailed overview of professional custom framing, perfect for the beginner to start framing like a pro.

Color Theory Made Really Easy

As all aspiring to experienced artists and crafters know, color theory is an important concept to understand to maximize your work. This program provides simple solutions and exercises based on traditional color theories. These theories apply to all art media. Now you can make your colors come alive!

If your new to painting in general or have always been curious about Chinese Brush Painting then rent An Introduction To Chinese Brush Painting

This two-part DVD begins with the very traditional “four friends:” the plum blossom, bamboo, the orchid, and the chrysanthemum. You will learn about necessary materials in wonderful detail. Part two, intended for the student well practiced in the “four friends,” takes on more ambitious subjects like a bird, fish, duck, panda, rocks and the finale, landscape painting.

For another study in the “four friends” or “four gentlemen” of oriental painting rent A Sumi-e Dream journey

Let Yolanda Mayhall show you exactly how to make the specific brush strokes used to paint the “four gentlemen.” Knowing these strokes will give you the skills to create beautiful paintings. She demonstrates each of the “four gentlemen” by painting a beautiful composition and then shows how the individual strokes are done.

The representation of animals is and important feature of Chinese painting. Explore this ancient style with Chinese Watercolor Techniques: Painting Animals.

Lian Quan Zen leads this study of using combining watercolors and Chinese inks to paint more freely and spontaneously. Become skilled at Chinese brushstroke exercises and techniques including color, pouring, blending, loading multiple colors and splashing.

Go In the Studio with… Zhaoming Wu - Solitude

Learn the classical painting as it has been preserved and practiced by Zhaoming Wu. His knowledge and talents merge into a convoluted path from the Nineteenth Century Masters down to us, today. One of the most valued faculty members of the San Francisco Academy of Art, he instructs and mentors artists in the graduate program in representative painting and drawing.

The Many Styles Of Cheng-Khee Chee

Rent one or all of this TOP CUSTOMER RATED 6-disk DVD set and have Cheng Khee Chee, considered by many to be one of the rare living examples of a “Complete Artist,” be your personal tutor. Choose from DVD 1 Introduction And Interview - The Many Styles Of Cheng-Khee Chee, DVD 2 The Traditional Watercolor Approach, DVD 3 Saturated Wet Technique, DVD 4 Splash Color Technique, DVD 5 Crinkle Paper Technique, and DVD 6 Marbleizing & Monoprinting Techniques. Rent one of these fantastic how-to’s today and connect your inner vision and outer world.

If you’re not a painter but want to experience a bit of Asian art, rent Japanese Woodcut Workshop

Think of this professionally made video as a week-long workshop or a refresher course where you can watch a skilled artist create a moku hanga print. Ms. Kuroiwa is a master of her craft, and her love and quiet enthusiasm for printmaking is contagious. You will love this video whether you are a master printer wanting a refresher or someone who is new to the art.

Attention Teachers, Parents, Community Activists, YOU! Looking for a great way to raise some much needed funds for that sports team or charitable cause? Maybe you just want to give a little back to your community and delight the kids with a safe place to haunt this Halloween?

This week the SmartFlix trick-or-treat is the know-how to create a Haunted House. Why you ask? Well, this is not only a great project to bring family, friends, and community together but you could also raise funds for a charitable cause!

No matter what the scale of your project, SmartFlix wants to prepare you with some awesome DVDs!

Instead of just giving out a few pieces of candy this Halloween, think of how much fun the neighborhood will have at your home-made scary fun house. Don’t wait to rent

Secrets of the Haunted Mansion Volumes 1-3  and  Secrets of the Haunted Mansion Volumes 4-7

With this nicely organized set of DVDs, you can pick and choose which DVD is best for your ideas!

Are you serious about fundraising? Rent The Official Guide to Haunted House Actor Training and Operations Management

This is a really technical look at recruiting and managing a Haunted House For-Profit but would be a great guide for someone organizing a large charity event.

Painting the Haunted Cemetery

Tell all your aspiring artists to grab their brushes and sit down to watch this DVD on how to create the illusion of deterioration and decay using such painting techniques as drybrushing, washing and staining. All you need to make your freshly built cemetery look like an old and spooky one is latex paint, watered down latex paint and normal paintbrushes—no expensive air brush and compressor necessary!

If you’re looking for some ideas from a person who runs a haunted house and accompanying website, look no further! Rent Rent Create Your Own Haunted House today!

Acorn Planet: This site offers Chinese Watercolor painting supplies: brushes, inks, paper etc for reasonable prices.

Awesome Art Supply: You can buy a Chinese Watercolor starter kit that includes everything you need to try out some of the techniques represented in our DVDs!

Oriental Trading Company: An internet warehouse of literally hundreds of crafty products - many of which can be customizable favors for your charity haunted house!

Halloween Ideas @ FamilyFun.com: This site run by DisneyFamily.com has some really great ideas for Halloween decoration and projects. Involve the kids in your haunted house promotion and decoration.

Give the gift of know-how with our SmartFlix Gift Cards. Available in $10, $25, $50, and $100 denominations, they’re the perfect gift for any occasion. With thousands of videos to choose from, the lucky recipient is sure to find something that they’ve always wanted to try!

Do you maintain your own website or blog? Are you looking to make a little extra cash to pay for your latest project? Do you know that you could earn credit for every click that turns into a customer? Crafters just like you have earned from $50 all the way up to $500 using the SmartFlix Affiliate Program!

SmartFlix has a huge collection of many different types of instructional videos. As you will see in this special issue, whether you’re curious about “green” living, painting, computers, or using a knife like a pro, we’re sure you’ll find something that interests you. Why not broaden your horizons, try something NEW, and rent that exciting DVD today!

This issue we have made it easy by highlighting some of the TOP 10 Customer Rated DVDs for your educational pleasure. All of us at SmartFlix value your opinion so much we’ve also highlighted some “Undiscoved Gems” - videos that we think you’d love but have not been rated by you, our valued customer! Forge a new path and rent one of these special DVDs and be the first to give it a rating before someone else does!

Green living is a major buzz word today given the ever increasing cost of energy. If your curious about what a hybrid home would consist of then rent Building With Awareness - The Construction of a Hybrid Home.

This gorgeously photographed how-to DVD gives you a comprehensive look at a sustainable straw bale home. From building the straw bale walls to setting up 100% solar electrical generation to aesthetic concerns this project is shown from start to finish. If you’re seriously considering designing and building a home like this or if you are looking for a general education on the subject, this DVD is a must see! Here’s what some of our renters who gave it the top rating (FIVE LIGHT BULBS):

David R.:

I really liked this video. It is extremely well organized and very professionally done. I learned so much from it.

John R.:

This video is professionally done from start to finish. Audio/video are informative and very well done. I have never seen a better how to video.

Jerome B.:

This is a beautifully entertaining video with excellent production. It provides a great overview of a spectrum of sustainable building technologies and approaches, yet is liberally sprinkled with helpful details.

With the economy the way it is, personal finance is becoming increasingly important. If you’ve always wanted to gain control of your financial future, there is no better time to start than right now with Learn Personal Finance.

Or rent this easy 7-step beginner guide for your kids! It could be the best thing that you’ve ever done for yourself of someone you care about. Rent it today!

Try your hand a portrait painting with this top-rated art how-to:

Lady in White - A Study in Grisaille. Paint along with Johnnie Liliedahl as she teaches you classical techniques used by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Ingres and others to paint a modern portrait. You’ll be amazed at how a deeper understanding of these easy-to-follow but essential techniques will help you improve your own portraiture. But don’t take our word for it!

Tania S.

Great video!!! Johnnie Lilidahl is everything everyone ranted about as a teacher.

Minerva G.

Was exactly what I expected Johnnie Liliedahl is an excellent artist and a great teacher.

Take some inspiration from an American Master Painter, Richard Schmid:

“Don’t bother about whether or not you have it. Just assume that you do, and then forget about it. Talent is a word we use after someone has become accomplished. There is no way to detect it before the fact… or to predict when or if mastery will click into place.”

Take his advice and see some of this distinguished artist’s work:

Rent The Capital Collection By Richard Schmid today!

This is 160 images of Richard Schmid’s Retrospective Works: Landscape, Floral, Figures, and Still Life paintings presented in a digital slide show. Originally presented to The Portrait Society of America in Washington, DC, in May of 2005, the collection spans nearly fifty years. It’s the next best thing to viewing this stunning collection in person and a must for every serious artist and art appreciator.

So you’re ok with technique and have been duly inspired, the next step is to make a room of your own to get painting!

Rent Jerry Yarnell’s PBS Series 100: Setting Up Your Art Studio & Researching Your Painting and let him show you how!

Larry G.:

If you have ever painted with Bob Ross (I have), then you will enjoy Jerry Yarnell. All the material is presented on an easy to understand level with the purpose of making the person understand that there is nothing magical about painting…anyone can do it.

Robert R.:

He has a wonderful show with great instruction.

If working with computers is more up your alley, have we a great TOP rated video for you. Let’s face it, websites are all the rage and if you’re a small business owner, employee, or even someone who has always wanted to blog about your ideas, not knowing how to build one can be limiting.

Total Training For Dreamweaver 8 …with Janine Warner.

If you already have Dreamweaver 8 and would like to make the best use of it, expand your knowledge with this well done DVD. For those who are thinking of buying Dreamweaver 8 this is a great introduction to what the program can do! Since they came out with a newer version, Dreamweaver 8 has become very affordable and you can even buy discounted copies of the software on eBay. What are you waiting for? Rent this DVD today!

Are you more of a book lover than a computer lover? You’ve got to rent The History of the English Language.

This subject is so central to the learning of the language that every English major in the country has got to take this course. Talk about the ULTIMATE value! Rent this DVD and get 36 lectures (the equivalent of a full course) taught by Professor Seth Lerer from Stanford University. Anyone who speaks the English language will appreciate having a better understanding modern English spellings and pronunciations, or valuing fine works of classic literature.

For the dedicated and budding foodies out there how about a fun how-to on finding wines that YOU like to drink. Rent John Cleese: Wine For The Confused.

No snobbery here, John Cleese (of Monte Python fame) clearly states: “Don’t let anyone ever try to tell you what wine you like, because people have different tastes and we shall honor that.” This light-hearted look at wine-making, the varieties of grapes used, buying a good value, storing, and serving wine will get you on your way to truly enjoying this wonderful elixir.

This satisfied customer agrees:

Verdict: high production values; crisp editing with notes of vanilla; smart script devoid of pretension; makes standing around talking to guys who drink wine all day look interesting; contains generous portions of Mr. Cleese’s inexhaustible charm. Five out of five grapes.

You know what they say: “Dull knife, dull chef.” The same is true for the home gourmet - find out why with Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Knife Set.

First learn how to select and care for your knives and then learn professional knife work. Amaze your friends at your next dinner party!

Love the great outdoors? How about reloading super accurate highpower rifle ammunition? Get the trade secrets from G. David Tubb, a marksman with over 20 years of experience and one of the most successful highpower rifle shooters alive?

Check out Highpower Rifle Reloading.

This DVD is billed as the most comprehensive, in-depth reloading program ever produced. Whether you’re a benchrest shooter or a hunter looking to reload super accurate rounds this video is for you! You get the inside scoop on what equipment he uses, how he resized the brass, how he selects his components, how he seats the primers, how he seats and crimps the bullet and much more. Here are just some of the customer comments:

Richard V.:

The video’s are very informative right down to the exact specifics. They tell you what you need to do it right.

Juan S.:

If you want to gain some insight on how the pros reload their ammo this video is it.

Calling all MAC owners! You’ve got to rent Garageband Tutorial.

Let musician and Apple expert Tony Wallace guide you through this really fun program through 24 tutorial videos and AskVideo’s easy to use interface and DVD menus. This tutorial is designed to get you up and running quickly while making learning the program fun and accessible. Rock on!

Sushi is delicious, low calorie, and very expensive! Learn all about this popular Japanese style of food preparation with Ken Sushi Video.

Renowned sushi chef and restaurateur, Hayashi Ken, proves that this style of preparation only looks hard. With step-by-step directions that show you how to select the right ingredients, know where and how to get them, and each step of preparation from start to finish you’ll be making it look EASY in no time. This DVD also includes cutting techniques and crucial health and safety information for handling raw seafood.

Ever wanted to make coffee like a pro? Rent Espresso 101 today!

You can learn everything you ever wanted to know about brewing coffee and espresso drinks like a professional barista from this award winning training course. You never know, you may turn your curiosity into a career!

Last but not least, don’t you think its time to put that piano to good use? Rent Play Piano Today!

It’s a great introduction to piano that allows you to learn at your own pace. Rent it right now and be the first to write a review!

SmartFlix Gift Cards

Give the gift of know-how with our SmartFlix Gift Cards. Available in $10, $25, $50, and $100 denominations, they’re the perfect gift for any occasion. With thousands of videos to choose from, the lucky recipient is sure to find something that they’ve always wanted to try!

Affiliate Program

Do you maintain your own website or blog? Are you looking to make a little extra cash to pay for your latest project? Do you know that you could earn credit for every click that turns into a customer? People just like you, who are interested in learning all about everything have earned from $50 all the way up to $500 using the SmartFlix Affiliate Program!

SmartFlix Universities debut

A better deal for those of you who want to develop more skills, at your own speed, with no late fees. Over the next few months we’ll be rolling out a number of SmartFlix Universities.

The first one is up and running: Woodturner U, where you can learn how to make amazing bowls, platters, pens, and other projects on your wood lathe. Whether you’re already a woodturner, if you’re interested in learning, or just want to see what the craft is all about, check out Woodturner U, and be one of the first to see what the future of how-to video education looks like!

References

“Richard Schmid Art Quotes.” The Painters Keys Website.

No matter where you live, September means the end of the summer and the beginning of the Fall season. Especially if you live in the cooler climates, interests will begin moving indoors as the days begin to shorten, you settle back into the rhythm of the school and work year, and for some, the air takes on that distinctive snap. Are you ready to entertain indoors? In this issue we’ve got:

• Autumn Decorating on a Budget: Some money saving do-it-yourself decorating DVDs
• Perfecting Your Halloween Costume - Spooky Make Up: Get a (severed) heads start on Halloween and learn show-stopping costume make up NOW!

As always we’re dying to hear from you so drop us an e-mail or send us your pics to marketing@SmartFlix.com and tell us what you’ve been up to. Your project could be featured in next month’s newsletter!

AiR presents: Reflections in Mud with Ron Dahline

Halloween Pottery! Watch as Ron “throws off the hump” and shows you how to construct one of his ghoulish “in your face” mugs. You and yours will be sipping from one of these fun, off beat projects before you can say “trick or treat!”

Antler Chandelier

Take some cues from the gorgeously decorated hunting lodges without spending hundreds of dollars for fixtures made from plaster casts of the real thing. These rustic sculptures are made from harmlessly shed antlers.

Knitting Essentials with Lucy Neatby

Refresh your knitting know-how and start making warm pieces to keep the necks (and hearts) of your friends and loved ones warm.

Photographing Kids with Jim Miotke

This must see video will show you the basics of photographing kids in four short segments. Are you ready to capture all of the precious moments during your family’s harvest and holiday activities?

Autumn Decorating on a Budget

Whether or not that telltale snap is starting to creep into the air, we are all going to start spending more time in our indoor spaces rather than outdoors. Weekend BBQs and beach picnics are going to give way to cozy meals family meals and rowdy football gatherings in the warmth of our homes. Even for those of us who live in the warmer climates, fall is a time to take one last breath before diving into the holidays. Take the time now for projects to update your decor!

With your inner “do-it-yourselfer” and SmartFlix you can save money and take all the credit for your beautiful home. You don’t have to be a professional decorator to take advantage of our collection of DVDs. There is truly something for everyone.

30 Ways to Feng Shui Your Home

Sometimes it is as easy as moving things around and releasing yourself from your clutter to bring new life into a room. Rent 30 Ways to Feng Shui Your Home! Feng Shui lecturer and consultant, James Allen, shares with you the ancient Chinese art of clearing your living space in order to release your chi and create a harmonious, healthy and prosperous environment. Rent this video today and find your inner Zen Master! It may help you through the holiday headaches.

The Decorating Diva

If you prefer a more traditional approach, you should rent one or all of Pam Damour’s The Decorating Diva series. Pam Damour will show you how to make accent pillows for any room. Apply her tricks of the trade to making a few pillows using the hot colors for fall: chocolate browns, deep shades of orange, or vibrant patterns. According to Kerri Stalton on WordPress.com, keep these pointers in mind when selecting fabric for your pillows:

1. Knit fabrics and slippery materials are hard to work with
2. Thin cotton fabrics do not usually make a spectacular pillow unless you are using a quilt block design
3. Geometric prints are more difficult to work with than random designs, since you will need to match the prints up

How to Make Shades & Draperies

For a more substantial update, try your hand at making your own window treatments. Other than your furniture, custom window treatments are one of the most expensive elements of your decor. Dianne Apple shows you how to make three distinct styles of shades and draperies: Pleated Draperies, Swag Treatments, and Roman Shades & Balloon Shades in her video series How to Make Shades & Draperies.

Building & Installing Window Treatments

In her other series, she shows you how to make cornice boards and install them. Don’t miss Building & Installing Window Treatments. One happy renter, Tod R. wrote:

We were quoted over $3000.00 (after the 60% discount), by a national department store chain for drapes in our living room and dining room. After watching this video, my wife and I were able to measure, cut, sew and install the very same ($3000.00) curtains for less than $500.

Wouldn’t you like to save that kind of money too? Don’t wait to rent one of these easy to follow DVDs!

Perfecting Your Halloween Costume -
Spooky Make Up

Halloween is one of the only holidays where your appearance can be as creative as you like. Whether you are attending a chic adults-only costume party, chaperoning pint-sized trick-or-treaters through the neighborhood, or waiting with a bowl full of goodies for a knock on your door, what fun would it be without the perfect costume? Halloween on the Web, a website dedicated to all things Halloween, recommends that you plan ahead:

Don’t start making your costume and makeup plans the night before Halloween. Do some advance planning and get all the materials, props, costume and makeup items you’ll need ahead of time. If you wait too long, what you need or want may not be available.

Face Painting A Beginner’s Journey

Now is the perfect time to learn how to do professional looking Halloween makeup! You don’t have to be a master artist to learn how to transform your little trick-or-treater into a lizard or a teddy bear with Face Painting A Beginner’s Journey.

Rent this beginner level face painting DVD and learn all about the products to use, some helpful tips and techniques, and see step-by-step demonstrations of 10 great full face designs.

Haunting Makeup

If you had something scarier in mind, learn how to create a ghoulish face from seasoned haunted house actors! Geoff Beck leads this inside look at how the pros make sure you’ll sleep with the lights on with Haunting Makeup.

Prosthetic Make-Up for Beginners

Ever wonder how they make those amazing faces in the movies? Learn how to create a movie quality prosthetic make-up from today’s Hollywood pros! Get the know-how with Mark Alfrey’s Prosthetic Make-Up for Beginners.

This two-hour video could change the way you view yourself, literally!

Theatrical Makeup Design

If you have something very specific in mind (changing your gender or transforming into a kabuki warrior) rent one of the DVDs from this 6-disk set with the webmistress of Costumes.org, Dr. Tara Maginnis‘ series Theatrical Makeup Design.

This real-time demonstration puts you in the Theatrical Make-up classroom as you learn from an expert makeup artist.

Rent one of these incredible DVDs today and start practicing!

All Free Crafts - “Free crafts, craft projects and patterns to make easy homemade gifts”

Nothing shows that you care more than taking the time to make something for your friends and loved ones. This website offers more than 900 all original, completely free craft projects and homemade gift ideas. Check out the free pillow patterns and Halloween crafts!

AllCraftSupplies

This well organized site offers a huge selection of all types of art and craft supplies: from knitting and quilting (have you started that quilting project yet?) to scrap booking. You can have supplies delivered to your door from most major manufacturers along with hard to find items.

Martha Stewart Living - Crafts

“Creepy Crafts” from the queen of all things domestic are not to be missed. The “Clip Art Candy Boxes” would be the perfect favor for any Halloween gathering.

Next Week

• A Terrifyingly Good Cause - Haunting the Homemade Charity
• Classically Exotic - Asian Painting Styles

SmartFlix Gift Cards

Give the gift of know-how with our SmartFlix Gift Cards. Available in $10, $25, $50, and $100 denominations, they’re the perfect gift for any occasion. With thousands of videos to choose from, the lucky recipient is sure to find something that they’ve always wanted to try!

Affiliate Program

Do you maintain your own website or blog? Are you looking to make a little extra cash to pay for your latest project? Do you know that you could earn credit for every click that turns into a customer? Crafters just like you have earned from $50 all the way up to $500 using the SmartFlix Affiliate Program!

SmartFlix Universities debut

A better deal for those of you who want to develop more skills, at your own speed, with no late fees. Over the next few months we’ll be rolling out a number of SmartFlix Universities.

The first one is up and running: Woodturner U, where you can learn how to make amazing bowls, platters, pens, and other projects on your wood lathe. Whether you’re already a woodturner, if you’re interested in learning, or just want to see what the craft is all about, check out Woodturner U, and be one of the first to see what the future of how-to video education looks like!

References

“How to Make a Pillow.” Kerri Stalton.

“Gruesome Make Up Hints.” Halloween on the Web.