Scrap Camp

Only two days to go and my weekend away scrappin' is approaching fast.  Unfortunately I haven't been more organised early enough to get the preparations done in advance.  I am thankful today is a public holiday so I can really get into finishing off my preparations.

At this camp I am planning on creating two 8 inch albums to give as Christmas presents.  These albums involving the second primary school where their enrollment changed in term four, 2009.  Consider Rachel only been here for three years now, the school sure had alot of activities on involving sport, fund raising and curriculum.

As for normal meets I had only one workshop and one casual meet attended this month as there was school holidays for two weeks.  Workshops and casual meets should be back to normal in May,

Scrap updates

March was a busy month attending to four workshops at my consultant's house.  Most of the layout ideas have been quite simple to do and this time I was working on the yearly diary albums.  I gone back to the early 21st century years and trying to catch up. The problem of scrapbooking you never seem to catch up as we intend to continue to take more photos of our family at home or at events, holidays, etc, etc.

In 18 days I will be away on attending to another scrap camp for the weekend.  It will be held at the same venue where we normally go.  I heard there is about 20-25 ladies going in our group and I think the conference centre will be busy as there might be other groups scrapping there on the same weekend. I dream of going to a scrap camp for a week but I can't see that one happening in my lifetime.

Once school resumes next week for term two I will be busy for two weeks on getting my page layouts ready to work on that weekend.  I am planning on starting another mini album or two to give for Christmas presents.

What's your latest craft projects?  Feel free to share what you have been up to this year.

Family photo tips

Being a long Easter weekend, most of us intend to spend time with our families and probably take alot of family photos at their destination spot.  So I thought I post some family photo tips to help you take better and more natural photos with your family in the holiday pose mode.  And remember: photos are worth a lifetime of memories.

Pick a Family-Friendly Location

Before you gather everyone who needs to be in your family photograph, choose a location. Natural lighting and plenty of space to pose large groups makes heading outdoors a good choice -- just make sure the weather will cooperate

Select a Simple Background for Your Family Photo

Remember: Simple is better when it comes to family photos. Don't go overboard with holiday decorations or props. Instead, keep the focus on the family with a simple background.

Adjust Lighting to Flatter Your Family

No one wants a family photo in which everyone is squinting or poorly lit. Have your subjects face away from the sun, and try to position family members so that the light source is behind or slightly to the side and meter your shot off their faces, not the area around them.

Take Photos from a New Angle

Stand on a chair or stepladder to take photos looking down on a group. They'll look up to see you, and you'll capture their faces at a flattering angle.

Think Candid Family Photos

One trick to boosting your family photo is to make it look natural. Position your family members in a non-traditional pose, or let them do what's comfortable. Family photos don't have to be stuffy, so remember to have fun!

Arrange Family Members on Different Levels

When posing your subjects, make sure their eyes are on different levels. This creates a more dynamic family photo.

Encourage Interaction between Family Members

Not everyone needs to be sitting nicely for it to be a good family photo. Some of the best shots capture interaction -- such as nudges or arms over the shoulder. This helps the photo from feeling too staged.

Use Light from Windows in Family Photos

Indoor family photos also get a boost from natural light. If you have a large window position your group nears it. The window doesn't need to be in the shot to reap the lighting benefits.

Pose Your Family

Ask family members to put their arms around the person next to them -- this brings everyone closer together and creates a sense of family unity.

Work with Natural Light in Holiday Photos

Natural light -- not family's temperament -- determines the best time of day to take family photos. The light is best in the early morning or in the late afternoon, just before the sun sets.

Take Family Photos before the Holiday Season

Plan ahead and schedule your family photo session early in the year. This way, if the weather -- or a certain family member -- doesn't cooperate, you have time to reschedule the shoot.

Fill the Frame with Family

Get up close and personal. The best family photos fill the frame with people, eliminating distracting backgrounds.

Coordinate Family Members' Clothing

Before photo day arrives, pick out clothes in coordinating colours. If your shot includes extended family -- whose outfits you can't pick out for them -- give them a colour scheme and ask that they not wear busy patterns.

Photograph Individual Family Members

If you can't get your entire family in one place to take a photo for your annual holiday card, don't worry. Instead, snap shots of individual members and design a card in image-editing software.

Help Family Members Relax

The best family photos are taken when everyone is relaxed. Take a silly shot in which everyone makes funny faces, and then keep snapping after they’re done – you’ll get completely natural smiles.

Keep the Attention of Small Children for Better Holiday Photos

If your family photo includes small children, have another child stand near the photographer to help keep your kids' attention. Just be sure the entertainer is on the same level as your photographer or you'll get photos in which eyes aren't looking at the camera.

Distract Camera-Phobic Family Members

If some family members are photo-phobic, help them to relax by asking them to interact with another family member.

Take Family Photos all Year

Take the pressure off yourself to snap the perfect family photo just for use on a holiday card; instead, use a favorite photo from the year. Take photos of your family -- and be sure to get in a few shots, too! -- when you're on vacation or a fun outing.

Convert Holiday Family Photos to Black-And-White

For a family photo that stands the test of time, choose outfits that don't clash and are more classic than trendy. If you've already taken your photo and just realized the outfits don't go together, convert the photo to black-and-white.