Prepping Tips Week 2

Hi All,

This week I'm following on from last weeks prepping tips so I'll now cover how to make sure your computer screen matches your prints.

As you may already know, there are more than one type of computer display monitor which means colours can vary between screens. The best way to make sure what your adjusting on the display matches the printed version is to calibrate. This can be achieved by using calibration software, however for day to day images this is not necessary. A method I use is to print out a calibration image as shown below and then match your screen to match the image.

NOTE: The most important colours to note are your blacks and whites. Make sure your printer is not running out of ink and producing a bad print. Place a piece of white card stock next to the whites on the image and check if they look good to go.

Once you are confident your printer is setup as you want it to, hold the printed image up against the monitor and play with the settings (on your monitor) to match the print. You may need to adjust your brightness and contrast along with your colours. Once this is done you're good to prep your images for your blog.

Next week I'll follow on by explaining how to get the best colours.

Now onto this weeks pics...

 

Top Row L-R: Susan Wong, Jacquelyn Williams, Janet Mills.

Middle Row L-R: Paula Reid, Karen Rogers, Debbie Lamb.

Bottom Row L-R: Lisa Bullock, Keryn Campbell, Julia Leece.

 

Until Next week...

 

 

Prepping photos Tips week one.

Hi Crafters,

Back in February I went through Photo Tips with you. I gave you a brief outline on what to do to capture the best picture for your blog, Now I thought I'd go over how to prep them.

What is Prepping? Well in the industry it is slang for the preparing of the image and getting something to a finished state. To get your images to a finished state you need to factor in a few things such as the image size produced for the file and the quality of equipment used in taking it.

I use Photoshop for prepping my images, but there are other useful applications, like Paint.net, Microsoft Paint, Paintbrush or Photoshop Elements or more professional applications like Lightroom or Photoshop CC.

Just remember these points;

1. Make sure you have a good quality camera.
2. Take your photos on a good file format and size.
3. Have an application the suits your skill level.

Next week I'll go over some more tips to increase your skills in getting the best image displayed on your blog.

Now onto this weeks pics...

 

Top Row L-R: Sharon de Vos, Sally Williams, Delys Cram.

Middle Row L-R: Jacquelyn Williams, Julia Leece, Paula Dobson.

Bottom Row L-R: Rhonda Fawcett, Lisa Bullock, Paula Reid.

 

Until next week...

 

Out with the old and in with the new...

Hi Crafters,

It's that time of year again when the retirement list comes out in anticipation for the exciting New Catalogue.

I for one are very excited about all the new and exciting things Stampin' Up! have planned for us this year. We've already had a taste of things to come with the release of the Single Stamps and the 25 years celebration stamp set, which I must say is gorgeous!

What are you planning to do with your retired stamp sets? I plan to keep most of mine because I buy what I love, and love to keep what a like!. I will however have a few I'll sell once the new catalogue arrives.

I would love to see some card examples of new products available now, post them on your blog and I'll chose the best to post.

Now onto the pictures for this week...

 

Top Row L-R: Judy Beetson, Sharon de Vos, Alison Hydes.

Middle Row L-R: Angela Palmer, Tee-Jay Horrell, Heather Stewart.

Bottom Row L-R: Roz Begbie, Paula Reid, Paula Dobson.

 

Have a great card making week everyone.

 

 

What a fantastic convention...

Hello crafters!!

Wow is all I can say... I attended my very first convention and what a fantastic experience it was. Not only did I meet some great new people but also learnt some great business ideas.

The one that I loved the most was "Creating a blueprint for success" taken by Louise Sharp and Brian Pilling. They gave me some great ideas on how I can build my business without effecting my family and lifestyle. Stampin' Up! give us the tools and the equipment to create a thriving business but we can make it what we want and however big we want it to be.

The other class I enjoyed was "Meet new people, find new faces" taken by Bonnie Thurber and she was a hoot! She made us laugh along while giving us great ideas about customers and what we can do to increase their numbers. One of the best parts was when she asked us to fill in the gap. "Customers are like....." with the best answer being "Customers are like chocolate, some are sweet and others may contain nuts" Lol

I have a special mention on this weeks Pics and it goes out to Emma Knight, she is Rachael Knights daughter and she created her first MDS card for Mothers Day, what a great job you did Emma...

 

Top Row L-R: Paula Dobson, Rachael Knight, Sharlene Meyer.

Middle Row L-R: Lisa Bullock, Rhonda Fawcett, Angela Palmer.

Bottom Row L-R: Sharon de Vos, Roz Begbie, Vanessa Baker.

 

 

Have a great week stampers.

 

Only 4 days to go until convention

Hi Crafters,

Excited yet! Only 4 days until convention and I've heard some of you have already started heading out towards lovely Brisbane - as for me only 3 more sleeps to go and I can't wait!

Next week there will be a delay in posting due to the fact I'm away, but no doubt I'll have some stories when I get back.

Now onto the pics...

 

 

Top Row L-R: Karen Rogers, Janet Mills, Alison Hydes.

Middle Row L-R: Lisa Bullock, Debbie Lamb, Delyc Cram.

Bottom Row L-R: Julie Calkin, Paula Dobson, Angela Palmer.

 

Better go and finish my swaps, have a safe and fun week everyone!

 

Hope you all had a fantastic Mothers Day!!

Hi Stampers,

Well I'm sitting here and it's almost 4am while doing this post the reason is I've been spending the last few weeks prepping photos from a photo shot I took, and while I'm a little late I did indulged myself with a day off on Sunday and did NOTHING! While enjoying my 8th Mothers Day.

I can now tick that job off and onto the next... convention swaps; all the items have been on our table for the last week half done I'm lucky I have such an understanding husband.

I hope you all had a fantastic Mothers Day; I made a fantastic card from Ann Wills stamp club which my Mother-in-law loved.

Enjoy this week’s pic...

 

Top Row L-R: Rhonda Fawcett, Vanessa Baker, Barbara Bicknell.

Middle Row L-R: Sally Williams, Alison Hyde, Rachael Knight.

Bottom Row L-R: Louisa TC, Judy Beetson, Karen Lister.

 

Have a fantastic week everyone... PS only 9 sleeps to go

 

 

18 days and counting

Hi Stampers,

Well it's only 18 days now until convention and I'm really getting excited. Remember registration closes tomorrow Monday 6th May, so be quick if you want to go!!.

I've had a fun week this week with the computer breaking down and my camera playing up,  that I almost wasn't able to post this week. However with a stroke of luck the computer is being nice today and I can put together the pics of the week.

Each week I have to select from all your great card making creations and some weeks are harder than others, this week being the hardest. I only get to select 9 pics (otherwise you can't really see the images) but I did end the week with 15 and after a long hard sort through,  I managed to get 9... phew

Enjoy this weeks pics...

 

Top Row L-R: Sharon de Vos, Sharlene Meyer, Narelle Hoggard

Middle Row L-R: Ann Wills, Delys Cram, Julia Leece

Bottom Row L-R: Karen Rogers, Debbie Lamb, Paula Reid

 

Have a fantastic week...

 

 

Convention is almost here...

Hi Stampers,

Well it's only 24 days away from the Australasian Stampin Up Convention, and if your as excited as I am, you've already thought about packing your bags or may have even started. I think a spare carryon bag will come in handy for all those extra goodies you'll get.

Here are some items you could think about bringing...

· A map - download a map of the area you could plan ahead and organise some places to go on your down time.

· A journal - don't forget to add those special moments down on paper.

· A camera - not only to take photos of swaps but all the people you meet and places you’ve been.

· A small drawstring backpack - one that can be folded down so when you want to pop down to the shops or go sightseeing, so you’re not taking a big bag everywhere.

· Sunglasses - even though were inside most of the day you’ll still need to pop out for lunch and I know I always forget these.

Also a little tip to help make your clothing items smaller in your suitcase (so you have more room for other things) I roll all my cloths up in a roll.

 

If you have any cool ideas on what to bring and would like to share drop me an e-mail.

Now onto the pics...

 

Top Row L-R: Karen Rogers, Jacquelyn Williams, Lisa Bullock

Middle Row L-R: Ann Mangnall, Sally Williams, Keryn Campbell.

Bottom Row L-R: Janet Mills, Rhonda Fawcett, Angela Palmer.

 

Have a great week everyone!

 

 

 

MDS Challenge #1

Hi Guys,

Well school holidays are here and I'm enjoying not getting up early each morning to drop the kids to school.

 

MDS challenge #1

This week I thought I'd do an MDS challenge, it's been a while since my last. All you need to do is make a card or page usng the colour combination below. You can use any embellishment or stamp set, just mark the post "NZSU MDS challenge #1".

Competition Dates: Monday 22nd April - Monday 6th May

Winners Announced: Sunday 12^th May

Conditions: Must be produced on the Stampin Up MDS software.

Challenge Colours

 

(Melon Mambo, Daffodile Delight, Tempting Turquoise)

 

As a winner you will be posted on the site and can use the NZSU winner flag on the winning post.

 

 

Now onto pics of the week...

 

 

Top Row L-R: Julia Leece, Janet Mills, Ann Wills.

Middle Row L-R: Paula Dobson, Sally Stuart, Alison Hydes.

Bottom Row L-R: Rachael Knight, Debbie Lamb, Sally Williams.

 

Have a great week everyone :)