Week 3 Scrapbook Tip: Cropping Photos

Here's a bit of a review of what we have covered so far.

1. Start with a recent event
2. Choose your favorite photos that tell the story

And now for your next tip

Tip #3  Crop out excess sky, landscape or background when necessary

Yes, it is totally ok to trim or crop your photos to accentuate what you really want your photos to focus on.  These are the photos I posted in tip #1, my most recent event. 

 Although this one has a lot of background, the blur of the landscape helps tell the story of movement so I didn't crop this photo.

 I am by no means an expert photographer (one of my goals is to take a class) but cropping my photos improves my photo composition.   This one has a lot of "snow" white space and the person gets a bit lost in the scenery.

Here's the same photo, cropped narrower.  It helps to bring her more in focus.  As I look at this, my subject is centered and that doesn't highlight the movement.

Now, I feel like there is movement in the photo. 

 Finally, I love this photo and don't plan to crop it.  The perspective of the car tracks in the snow and how shows activity in the photo.

I like to work with photos that are 4 x 6, 4 x 4 or 4 x 3.  Smaller photos can be fun but I tend to use them in more artistic pages where I am taking more time.  The purpose of these tips is to make your scrapbooking faster, simpler and easier...so that topic is for a different series.  

Want to learn more about cropping?  I found this great article on cropping photos.  It has great visual explanations and comparisons.

You can crop your photos during your shoot (this is where the photography class comes in), you can crop them on the website where you print them (that is usually what I do), you can crop them in an editing program and then download them for print, or you can print them as taken and crop them as you scrapbook them.  Pick the way that works best for you!

Enjoy your scrapbooking,
Michele

Seasonal Expressions 1 Blog Hop

Are you ready for a little bit if spring and whimsy?  You are going to love the new Seasonal Expressions and all the goodness it holds for your creative endeavors.

Welcome to the blog hop featuring the latest products from Close to My Heart. If you have arrived from Krista's Blog, you are hopping in a big circle that will feature artwork from 20 consultants.  When you are finished here, make sure to continue on to Miss Carrie's Creations. 

Where do I start?  Close to My Heart has hit it out of the park with new themed papers and stamps with something for everyone.  I was inspired by the set Z4164 Mother's Garden.  It reminded me of my mom who had a huge garden and loved to get up early before the sun was hot and work in her garden.  Her harvest was always bountiful and beautiful. 

The stamp set comes with thin cuts and the paper I used is Gimmee Some Sugar. 

If you have a CTMH consultant, head on over to the website and take a look at all the new product.  If you don't have a current consultant, I would be happy to help you.  You can visit my website here or contact me to get a current catalog. 

Remember there is so much more to see!  Head on over to Miss Carrie's Creations to see what she had made. 

Week 2: Too many photos!

Last week I recommended that you start your scrapbooking with a most recent event.  It is fresh in your memory, exciting to remember, and easy to find!  You can read about it here.  But..."I have so many photos!"you might say.

Tip #2  You don't need to use every photo

That's right!  Instead, narrow it down to a few of your favorites and focus on the best moments of that event.  

Digital devices makes it so easy to take LOTS of photos with our phones.  We want to make sure we get the right shot or save all the memories.  This causes us to feel overwhelmed when we look back.  Even I posted seven photos of my most recent event, White Christmas, last week and that doesn't include the photos I am waiting to receive from a friend.  

 So, when you weed them out and you still have more photos than you feel like fits on a page, what do you do?  Close to My Heart has a solution for that called Pocket Plus and Flip Flaps.  These products allow you to add extra photos that don't "fit" on the page yet you want to include.  

Here's an example of how you can use Pocket Plus.  

This is a scrapbook page from the Chelsea Gardens Workshop Your Way.  Beautiful right?  I has a total of 6 photos on it...including some little 2 x 2's.  If I had one more photo, I might add a flip flap to include it on the page but what if I have several more?  

 

Here is the same layout but in the center, you can see the Pocket Plus pages that allow you to add more photos AND journalling.  The cut apart cards included in the CTMH paper packets can be used to fill any "holes" that you don't have photos for and they help to continue the theme as well as give your eye a place to rest.  

Pocket Plus fit right into the binding of your scrapbook whether post bound or 3 ring, are the same sturdy weight as your page protector, and have easy slide in openings.  

 

3 x 4 Horizontal Photos Z3245

 

4 x 3 Vertical Photos Z3244

 

4 x 6 Horizontal Photos Z3242

 

 6 x 4 Vertical Photos  Z3243

If you are interested in learning more about Pocket Plus and how to use them, please feel free to contact me.  Want to purchase now?  Head on over to my website and place your order.  

And one final photo for my most recent event that I will be scrapbooking...

Michele

Flash Sale!

Close to My Heart is kicking off 2018 with a 24-hour flash sale on my website this weekend! The sale will begin at 3:00 pm (MST) on Friday, January 12, and end at 3:00 pm (MST) on Saturday, January 13!

30% of selected bundles of current products!  Shop now for best deals!  

 Happy saving!

Michele

Week 1 Scrapbook Tip

I found a great list of tips for beginner scrapbookers but I think going back to basics is good whether you are just getting started or are a seasoned scrapbooker.  So, I have grand plans to share a tip with you each week and even try it out myself.  Let's get started.

#1  Start with recent photos

Really, this is a great place to start.  You know where the photos are, you have recent memories to share, and you will be inspired to start here and not feel overwhelmed with the boxes or folders of past photos.

I will be choosing our photos of our white Christmas.  I am going to keep it refined to just the photos I have of snow and tell the story of the rarity of snow on Christmas day living in the Pacific Northwest.  

 What photos will you start with?  Spend some time this weekend choosing and printing photos!

Happy Scrapbooking,
Michele

One gift left to open!

There was one gift left to open this Christmas and I offered it to anyone who was interested.  It was opened by Jennifer and I am so excited about what she got.  Want to see what was inside?

You can open your own box too!  

New Year- New You!  Come join the FUN!
Discount on your crafty supplies and or paying your bills!! We have an amazing group of women who do both♥️
#youvegotnothingtolose
#thekitisfullofgoodstuff
#andyouget$50tospend

What are you waiting for? 

 Michele

Bloom & Grow, Jan SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the New Year, 2018 and a new stamp of the month. 

I hope you had a great holiday season with family and friends.  Are you ready to get creative?  I know I sure am!  You are on my page as a part of the stamp of the month blog hop.  If you have come from Tracie's blog, welcome.  After you have viewed my page, you will hop on over to Miss Carrie's Creations to see her inspiring artwork.

Setting down to play with this set brings a bit of spring to the deep winter feel.  A breath of fresh air!  I used the new Make It From Your Heart vol. 4 card design book to create these two cards.  The paper is from the new kit "Gimme some sugar" and the cute watering can is from C1714 Mother's Garden.  I love creating the "waterfall" with bitty sparkles.  The sentiments are from our January Stamp of the month. 

The flower packet feel of this set inspired my launch of our new catalog and the theme of having a Garden Party, indoors of course.  I can't wait to share all the fun things I will make for the party but for now it is a surprise.  If you are local and you want to join us Jan 20th, contact me for details. 

I hope you have been inspired to begin your new year creating!  You can purchase this stamp set from your Close to My Heart Consultant or you can visit my website and purchase it there as well.  This set is available only during the month of January and can be purchased for $5 with a minimum order.

Miss Carrie's Creations has something wonderful in store for you so don't forget to hop of over to her blog.

Here's to a creative new year!
Michele