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July 11, 2009

New Catalog Open House!!

This past Thursday was my New Catalog Open House and we had so much fun!!!  We stamped, we laughed, we shopped, and I took some pictures!!!

Here is the make & take table:

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At another table everyone made a bookmark with all the in-colors:

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And I even made everyone take a test!!!  But don't worry - it was open book AND they got a prize for taking it!!

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Here was a table of some of the new products:

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And of course there were samples (and even FOOD)!!

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Lots of people also signed up for Stamping Clubs, too.  If you are in the northern New Jersey area, this is a great way to get out once a month and purchase a few stamping things a little at a time.  I am starting two new clubs this month, and will always be starting new ones, so if you might be interested, check out the info here and email me to let me know you'd like to join!



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July 08, 2009

Scrapbook Sketch Contest Winner!!

Congratulations to Maureen who has won the June Scrapbook Sketch Contest!!  Here is Maureen's Layout.  For more info, you can check out the original post here.

Whoareyou

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July 07, 2009

Deal of the Week: Big Shot Doctor's Bag

DBWS_dealofweek_bigshotbag You'll feel like a big shot carrying around the Big Shot Doctor's bag! From July 6-12, get the Big Shot Doctor's Bag for just $49.99. That's nearly 30% off the regular price of $69.95!

To order, click on the button below:

Onlineorderanimate


July 06, 2009

Last Day to Vote!!!

Today is the last day to vote in the Scrapbooking Sketch Challenge.  You'll see the poll on the sidebar to the right.  The voting closes at midnight tonight!!!

To be the FIRST to know about upcoming challenges, sign up for my mailing list in the box below.  Just enter you email address & click Go!

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July 04, 2009

Stampin' Up! Deal of the Week!!

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Each week during July, Stampin' Up! will offer one discounted product as the "Deal of the Week"!

This week's deal is the Scallop Edge Punch, yours for just $10.99!  There are no limits to the number you can purchase, and no minimum purchase necessary!  You can click here to order online.

The deadline to order is Monday, July 6, at 11:45AM EST. 

Check back every Monday afternoon in July for the new Deal of the Week!

Be sure to sign up for my FREE Stampin' Up! e-Newsletter to receive coupons, stamping tips, ideas, and subscriber-only contests!


July 03, 2009

Photographing Fireworks

The Best Way to Photograph Fireworks (information from www.pcworld.com)

Here's what you need to know to capture the excitement of a summer fireworks display.

Dave Johnson, PC World


For the photographer, winter certainly has its share of iconic subjects, such as Christmas trees, snowmen, and icicles hanging from a roof. But there's nothing quite like the excitement of shooting summertime fireworks. Done right, fireworks photos are dynamic and colorful, and they convey a sense of action better than almost any other kind of still image. Read on to learn how to capture some exciting fireworks photos of your own this summer.

(Photo by foxypar4.)

(Almost) Any Camera Will Do...

Though photos of fireworks look impressive, you don't need specialized gear to get good results. You can use almost any digital camera to capture fireworks, as long as it offers either some degree of manual exposure control (so that you can dial in the right ISO, aperture, and shutter speed settings) or a fireworks scene mode designed to do the work for you.

Even compact digital cameras can meet the challenge. The Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR shown here, for example, hits the sweet spot for portability and simplicity--it's a superb compact point-and-shoot that, when set to fireworks mode and stabilized to minimize image shake, can take some excellent fireworks shots.

...But a Digital SLR Is Best

Compact cameras eschew features for portability, however. If you like to tinker with your exposure settings, consider an advanced point-and-shoot like the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS. It has a convenient swiveling LCD for shooting unusual angles, such as over the top of a crowd or low down on the ground. A wealth of exposure options let you dial in the one-touch fireworks mode or take more control with shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure settings.

If you have a choice, though, I recommend enlisting a true digital SLR. Digital SLRs tend to generate less noise in the lengthy exposures you'll need to capture fireworks, and they have advanced features such as manual exposure control and external shutter release to minimize shake when you're taking the photo. The Nikon D90 (pictured here), for example, is a favorite not just because it was the first digital SLR to incorporate high-definition video recording, but also because it provides excellent image quality, Live View mode, and face detection for those times when you’re not shooting fireworks.



Stabilize Your Camera

The most important rule for shooting fireworks: Use a slow shutter speed so that you can record those dramatic, colorful light trails as they explode through the sky. But no matter whether you're using a point-and-shoot or a high-end digital SLR, you'll need some sort of support to capture a sharp image, free from the blur that results when you hold a camera in your hands.

A simple, inexpensive, and lightweight tripod is all you need. Keep the tripod head loose so that you can quickly move it around to frame the exploding fireworks, while the tripod legs prevent jiggling.

If you don't want to haul even a compact tripod around, consider using a monopod--since it has just one leg instead of three, it won't be as steady as a tripod, but it can be a reasonable compromise. You could also prop your camera on a solid surface. Some photographers like gadgets such as The Pod (essentially a bean bag with a tripod mount in the top) for steadying the camera on rocks, fences, and other platforms.



Hands Off

You should also avoid touching the camera when the exposure starts, so you don't jiggle it and blur the photo. You could try to use the camera's self-timer to trigger the exposure, but you would have to trigger your exposure in advance to anticipate the best fireworks moment. A better solution is to invest in a wireless remote or a shutter release cable, both of which let you take the photo without touching the camera.



Go Automatic


If your compact camera or advanced point-and-shoot has a fireworks mode, enable it. This mode automatically adjusts the camera's settings for a nighttime exposure. Want to know what's going on behind the scenes? On most cameras, the fireworks mode will turn the flash off, set focus to infinity, disable exposure compensation, and lower the ISO. For the most part, I find that a preset fireworks mode achieves good results for simple shots.



No Fireworks Mode? No Problem


Some point-and-shoots that lack a fireworks mode may still permit you to adjust the settings. Here are some good settings to try, if your camera allows.

Low ISO: Set the camera to its lowest ISO setting to minimize digital noise.

Focus on infinity: Turn off automatic focus and set the camera's focus to infinity so that it doesn't search helplessly for a subject in the dark. Don't have a manual focus control? Use the camera's landscape mode, which also sets the focus to infinity; the low light will encourage the camera to shoot at a slow shutter speed and capture the light trails.

Set the aperture: Dial in an f/stop somewhere between f/8 and f/16. That will help prevent overexposing the scene and avoid light "blooms" coming from the explosions in the sky.

Slow down the shutter: Pick a value between 1 second and 16 seconds for your shutter speed. The longer the exposure, the more fireworks you'll capture in the same frame, and the longer your light trails will be. For really long exposures try covering the lens with your hand or the lens cap between bursts to avoid overexposing the picture.

(Photo by Howard Meyer.)



Shooting With a Digital SLR

If you have a digital SLR, you'll have an easier time--and more options--when setting up your camera for fireworks.

In a nutshell, you'll want to dial in the lowest ISO, throw the camera into full manual mode, choose a small aperture opening (try starting at f/8), and pick a slow shutter speed with an exposure time of between 1 and 4 seconds. After you take your first few pictures, review them to see if you're getting realistic color. If the bright blue, orange, and red fireworks all look kind of white, you should use the same exposure time but close the aperture a bit and try again. That means changing your f/8 setting to f/11 or perhaps f/16. If the fireworks are too dim, open the aperture to f/5.6 or f/4.

Most SLRs have a bulb mode that leaves the shutter open for as long as you hold down the shutter release, giving you total control over the exposure. When the fireworks launch, press the shutter release to start the exposure. Hold the button down until after the fireworks have bloomed, several seconds later. If you go for superlong exposures, you should cover the lens between fireworks.





Get a Wide Angle on the Scene


While you might be tempted to zoom in to get close-ups of the action, I recommend that you use the wider end of your lens's range--or, if you're using a digital SLR, switch to your wide-angle lens. You'll be able to capture more fireworks in a shot and even frame the action against a skyline or other recognizable objects in the foreground.

Of course, you can experiment by changing your zoom range throughout the evening. Just remember that if you zoom in too tightly, you'll have trouble knowing exactly when and where the fireworks are going to do their thing, and you'll end up missing the action.

(Photo by stage88.)



Experimentation Is Key

As you prepare for summer fireworks, remember that capturing the action is often more art than science. Experiment with a range of shutter speeds and aperture settings over the course of the event. If the weather is uncooperative, take advantage by incorporating umbrella-covered spectators into the scene. And don't forget that your photo editing program's cropping tool can sometimes bring a distant fireworks blast front and center, turning a mediocre shot into a keeper.

For more great tips on photography (and lots of other tips & information), sign up for my monthly newsletter in the box below:

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July 02, 2009

Happy New (Catalog) Year!!!

Here are the links to the new catalogs!!  Yeah!!!

First, the new 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog (click on the image to open the file).

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And second, the Spanish catalog, Celebrando Creatividad.

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And finally, the new Definitely Decorative Fall Winter 2009 Catalog.

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To place an order for any of these products, click here!!


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June 28, 2009

Featured Artist of the Day - Scrapbook Sketch Challenge

Today's Featured Artist is Maureen Merritt.  Maureen did another great layout about their family's hikes.  I love her use of the earthy blues, greens, and browns with the pops of red & yellow.  And "Whoo" can resist the adorable chipboard owl (from Stampin' Up!'s On Board So Tweet).

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Here is her journaling, a poem about her two little boys:
You are two sweet little boys so loving and kind,
Wild and crazy in every way.

Playing and running side-by-side.
An adventure to fill each new day.

Fighting and laughing, silly and strange,
Brothers and friends forever, I pray!


There are still a few days to enter the June Scrapbooking Sketch Challenge Contest.  Check out the sketch and all the rules here.


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June 26, 2009

Pool Party Thank You Notes

A couple days ago I shared the Pool Party invitations I made for my daughter's 7th birthday.  I wanted something super simple for the thank yous since it was the end of the school year and there were dozens of other things going on, so I decided upon a one-layer card.  I took some of the elements from the original invitation (the Just Beachy stamp set) and simplified it into this:

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And I did a little more on the inside:
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Emily wrote out every single note (and there were 18 of them) all by herself.  THAT was a huge relief and some good summer practice for her!!

So the moral of my story is don't be too afraid to make something simple, quick & easy.  It can turn out great!!!

Oh, and one more thing - my July newsletter will be out next week.  You have to be signed up for my mailing list to receive it.  To do so, fill out the box below!!



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June 23, 2009

Featured Artist of the Day - Scrapbooking Sketch Challenge

Today's Featured Artist is DeeDee Sparks.  DeeDee send along a layout from her visit two years ago to Legoland in California.  She is going back this year and wrote, "We are about to go on this trip again, so it is nice to have the pictures from two years ago on a layout." 


Legoland

I love her use of color throughout the layout.  Legoland is a colorful place and she was able to use lots of color in her layout without it competing with her photos.  Great job DeeDee!!

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