Designer Cards & Tags with Anna Griffin
Photocraft
“How to Take Perfect Scrapbook Pictures”
By Joann Zocchi for Memory Makers Books
One of the essential parts of a momentous scrapbook layout is the picture. Pictures help us capture a point in time that we can forever remember. The question is how do you take great pictures for all of your scrapbook ideas? The answer is found in Joann Zocchi’s, Memory Maker book, “How to Take Perfect Scrapbook Pictures”.
Throughout the book, you will discover basic and advanced techniques to use with both your automatic and digital cameras. Included at the end of each chapter is advice from experts in the photography field.
The book begins by covering camera basics. In this chapter you will review:
-What a camera actually is
-The meaning of exposure and light-meter readings
-How to work with different operating modes and lenses
-What camera works best for your needs
-Choosing appropriate camera accessories.
Film and digital media are the focus of the next chapter. The use of various types of film is discussed in detail to help you decide which you will need for your picture needs. Also covered is:
-Print film and negative film
-The color and balance of light
-Buying and processing film
-Digital media images
-Storage
The fairly new digital world has opened innovative doors for everyone to improve and edit pictures at home. In order for you to learn more about how to work with digital photos, the following is discussed:
-Hardware and computers
-Image-editing software
-Editing images
-Color balance
-Digital image manipulation
-Creating quality output and results
Producing great pictures works only if you can capture the subject effectively. To do so, Zocchi gives information on the following:
-How to get the depth of field desired
-Controlling shutter speed and movement
-Using automatic features wisely
-How to hold a camera properly
Another component of producing impressionable photographs is utilizing visual dynamics to create deliberate results. Visual dynamics in a photograph is what emotionally touches the viewer. If used properly, visual dynamics can evoke a vast array of feelings. In this section, you will learn the basics of visual dynamics including composition, color, point of view, reflections, light, and scale.
As a scrapbooker, you most likely work closely with pictures of people and know that everyone does not photograph in quite the same way. To learn more about how to take great portraits you will need to know your equipment, camera controls, visual dynamics, location, and lighting. With these essentials out of the way, you can focus on the subject or people you are photographing. Whether taking casual or formal pictures, your methods will vary if the subject is individuals, children, babies, teenagers, or groups.
No matter what camera, film, method, or technique you choose, every picture has a story to tell and you can capture that moment in time. While this book mainly focuses on the actual photograph process, its full-color illustrations and scrapbook samples make for a useful tool for beginning to advanced scrapbook and photography enthusiasts. Scrapbookers have long known that creating lasting memories is a fundamental part of our lives. Now with “How to Take Perfect Scrapbook Pictures”, you have the tools needed to break out of the photo norm and create great pictures with skill and confidence.
“Designer Cards & Tags with Anna Griffin”: Fabulous Projects Created with Style
When it comes to creating beautiful tokens celebrating the lives of those we care about, Anna Griffin takes the cake. In her latest book, “Designer Cards & Tags”, award-winning designer, Anna Griffin, inspires her readers to find the time to share their creativity with others for every occasion. Whether you want to say happy birthday or just hello, this book is full of ideas to spark your creative spirit with a handmade card or tag.
Beginner, intermediate, and advanced projects are detailed in each chapter including a supply list and step-by-step instructions for all project designs. To aid in creating these projects, materials, techniques, and templates are provided in the final chapter of the book.
The project ideas are arranged in the following chapters:
Happy Birthday: Everyone enjoys receiving a thoughtful gift for a birthday. Anna Griffin provides card and tag ideas for a personalized birthday greeting.
For My Valentine: What better way to celebrate the season of love than with a handmade card or tag? This chapter gives imaginative ways to express your affection from simple ready-to-mail valentines to sentiments made into an elegant valentine’s fan.
Thinking of You: In today’s virtual world, receiving an actual piece of mail is a treasure. Anna Griffin stresses how sending a simple handmade card or tag to someone can mean the world. Follow her project ideas to show someone you really care.
Thank you: How can you say enough thanks to someone for their time and thoughtfulness? One way to start is with a handmade expression of gratitude in the form of a card or tag uniquely created by you.
Best Wishes & Congratulations: Celebrating a new addition to a family, a wedding, a graduation, or a promotion can all be done in style by following Anna Griffin’s project layouts and instructions.
Friendship: One of the most treasured gifts you can ever have is a true friend. Celebrate your friendships by making one of the included projects and sending it to someone to show you truly care.
Holiday: Start or continue a family tradition by creating handmade cards and tags for the holidays. Follow along with Anna Griffin as she outlines unique holiday greetings.
With Love: Anytime is the perfect time to show your love. In this chapter, discover ways to make cards, a mini book, and tags to say “I Love You” with style.
Anna Griffin challenges her readers “to imagine the face of your mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, or friend when they open the card you have made for them. Imagine the smile, the happiness and the gratitude they’ll feel.” There is no better feeling than knowing you have touched the heart of someone you love. If you feel inspired to make handmade card and tag creations for those you care about, this book is a valuable addition to your craft collection.
To find the products mentioned in this article and shown in these layouts, check with your local scrapbook retailer. Look at our Premier Retail Stores for coupons to a store near you.
“Photocraft”
By Caroline Herter, Laurie Frankel, Laura Lovett
Imagine creating a keepsake that is not only affordable but unique for your friends and family to enjoy. Seem impossible? Well, with the creative ingenuity of the authors of “Photocraft” almost anything is possible to make with your precious photos from shower curtains to plant stands, bibs to pet place mats.
“Photocraft” is written to provide techniques and resources to both beginner and advanced crafters. The book begins by outlining “Photocraft 101” - a review of the tools, terminology, concepts, and materials needed to make the projects provided.
In this section you will learn more about:
-Finding the right images to use
-Organizing, preserving, and storing photos
-How to properly work with digital images and cameras
-Using hardware and software to generate great digital photos
-Discovering which scanner and printer works best
-Choosing the perfect paper or fabric for each project
-Which glues, adhesives, sealers, laminators, and frames are compatible with different projects
-“The Photocraft Pantry” which reviews the basic tools and materials recommended to successfully complete each project.
After thoroughly reviewing “Photocraft 101”, it is time to get started in making your own creations in the “Photo Play” section. Each project has a full-color picture, summary, item list, and step-by-step instructions. Some of the project examples included are a tissue box, photo bracelets, votives, coasters, and photo album. Several other project ideas are given with colorful illustrations.
Once you have mastered the “Photo Play” projects, you may be ready to work at “Expanding Your Repertoire”, the final chapter of the book. This section also includes project ideas, pictures, lists, and instructions. A few of the project ideas outlined here are jewel case displays, a silk scarf, jewelry, a quilt, an accordion-fold book, and a clock. The ideas given in this section are more complicated than the previous but the benefits of seeing your photos in craft masterpieces are priceless.
“Photocraft” projects are not only one-of-a-kind creations but invaluable mementos to share with your loved ones. The book carefully outlines ways to preserve your work and photos so they can be enjoyed for years to come. If you are ready to get those photos out of the box and into a cherished keepsake, “Photocraft” is the perfect place to jumpstart your imagination for lasting creations.
