A window and a piece of cardboard is all you’ll need to take pictures of silver jewelry with brilliant, even tones.

Move a table as close to a window as you can.

Make sure that the top of the table is a higher than the window sill.

Tape a piece of tracing paper to the window. Sunny or cloudy skies, the paper will make light coming in to be even and soft. Hang the paper so it goes down below the table.

When using white paper as a background put something white underneath to avoid the table coming through making it look dark.

I used a 2′ x 2′ piece of foam board to bounce back light from the window, you can use anything that stands upright without bending. A piece of cardboard covered with sheets of white paper will work great.

Light will reflect from the white card and from the white surface as well.

Silver is like a mirror, it shows whatever is around. The light and white paper will reflect on the metal making it look light and shiny. Pendant, a courtesy of Roxy’s Jewelry.

If you pull the white card away from the window it will create a dark area that will also reflect on the jewelry.

Different tones of silver make a picture have more depth. You may like the way it looks, or you may not. If you prefer the silver to have even tones make sure that the card is flashed against the window.

However, if you do want your background to have a gradation of tones try replacing the white card with a black one. Blocking the light will create a shadow with a clear edge.

Then you can play placing your jewelry where the background shifts from light to dark to see what happens.

Every other week we post a new product photography tutorial showing how to take at home the pictures we create at the Via U! studio.

Most online artists and crafters offer these tips to get the perfect shots:

• Take your photos outside to get the best light on your items.  Cloudy days are best as the filtered light helps bring pop to the photo.
• Display your item in an interesting way, but don’t let the background or display become too busy. You want your item to be the main attraction.
• Contrast your background and item. Light items on dark backgrounds and dark items on light backgrounds.
• Take photos from many different angles and select the one that gives the best view of your item.
• Use a tripod. Shaky hands led to unfocused images. Practice and get comfortable with your camera.

I’m trying to organize my digital photos because I’ve fallen in love with the process of making slide show videos out of them.  So in love I even purchased a new computer for myself and after 20+ years of being quite PC, I bought a Mac!  I’ve not had much time to play around with my Mac other than organize the billion photos my husband has taken over the years, but I’m excited about it.  Another way to be creative.  And don’t think I’m going totally digital, I’ve been stocking up on my decorative papers to make cool CD and DVD envelopes!

Here’s my advice for organizing your digital photos and I’ve thrown in a few of our most recent photos for you to enjoy!

Immediately delete any images you don’t want while taking your photos.  This is the first step in organizing digital images.  If you aren’t happy with a photo, delete it, and re-shoot on the spot.

Don’t leave images in your digital camera.  Download the images into a folder that includes the event and date in the folder name.  This is also a good time to delete any images that you don’t want.

A sunset captured in Palau.

Once images are downloaded into a folder on your computer, make an index file.  Create a word document and use it to describe the event, people in the photos, location, date, and journaling.  This is a must! 

If you have time, rename the images to include name, date, location or other reminder of what the photo is about.  This can be done later, but it is important.  This is also another opportunity to delete any unwanted images or to send images to others via e-mail.  The longer you wait to organize digital images the more likely you are to forget the details like location, date, and even people in the photos.

The new addition to my craft studio my husband is building.

It’s a good idea to back-up your photo inventory on a timely basis so you don’t lose any images if your computer has problems.  It’s a good idea to keep different categories of CD or DVD copies too.  

There are several excellent software programs that help keep your digital photos organized.  Programs like Greenstreet Digital Photo Album Deluxe, OnTheGoSoft Photo Backup and Preclick Photo Organizer.  These programs organize, backup, and even allow for digital albums.

A huge grouper we saw diving!

Use subfolders for key events like birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and other annual events that you know you will take photos.  The main folder should have the event name and all subfolders will have the year.  For example:  Main Folder is Maria’s Birthday; Subfolders are 2003, 2004, 2005, and so on. Vacation folders should include location and year with an index that includes specific dates and people.

Ken's 50th birthday.

If photo editing, make sure you keep the original image intact.  Make a copy of the image you want to photo edit and work with that.  The more you photo edit, the more the image loses some quality so it’s important that key original images be kept as backup.

One of our orchids in bloom.

My first thought when I hear a hurricane is headed our way — Where are my most precious photographs? We have two small airtight containers of photos that are tucked away high in a bathroom closet during hurricane season. I can quickly find the containers and put them in the car if we need to evacuate. All these photos have been scanned and placed on CDs and DVDs too. I even scan my scrapbook pages.

We keep the disks in our safety deposit box and also send out copies to friends in different locations around the country.  I can’t really explain it, but for some reason there are certain photos of family and friends that if I lost the photos, I’d really be heartbroken!  It’s not fun to think about hurricanes, tornados, floods, fires, or other catastrophic events that can happen at any time in any place, but it is important to be prepared and think ahead.

My brother’s house was on the fire line of the Oakland, CA fires many years ago.  Even though he knew exactly where he kept a metal box of family photos he said he just didn’t have time to even think when he and his wife were asked to evacuate.  One of his main concerns while waiting for days to find out if he still had a home was that he should have grabbed that box of photos before leaving.  It was a box of family slides our father had taken when we were all kids and my brother was devastated that he might have lost them.  The story has a happy ending, my brother’s house barely suffered smoke damage, but that metal box of family slides has now been scanned and the images on a CD that every family member has a copy of!

Before disaster strikes think about what is most important to you and if you have heirlooms that are priceless to you, consider how to store these items so that in case you must leave your home quickly you can have a better chance of saving the personal treasures.  Never risk your life or the life of a loved one for a material possession, I’m just trying to say that if you plan ahead for emergencies sometimes that knowledge will give you a little more time.

Thoughts and prayers go out to all who face Mother Nature’s storms.  Even the worst of times can be made better with creativity.  Be smart too!  Think ahead and be prepared.

Your Home

Your Garden

Your Car

A Writing Pen

Your Favorite Song

Your Favorite Book

Your Favorite Movie

That Special Look

Your Favorite TV Show

Your Last Vacation

Your Best Vacation

Joy & Jubilation

Your Beloved Pet

Your Child

Your House Plants

Your Favorite Color

A Big Brother

Your Biggest Dream

Your Faith

Your Best Friend

Kicking A Bad Habit

A Catcher’s Mitt

Your Exercise Routine

Your Favorite Food

Flavor of Ice Cream

A Daydream

Your Hobbies

The Neighborhood

Your Grandmother

Your Grandfather

Your Aunt

Your Uncle

Crying Uncle

Being First Born

Being An Only Child

The Baby of the Family

A Hissy Fit

First Home

Your Summer Home

Your Home Town

Most Prized Heirloom

Your Favorite Tree

Your First Crush

Your Last Crush

Getting Lost

Being Found

Finding Your Keys

Hitting The Piano Keys

The Florida Keys

A Summer Breeze

Your Hero

A Favorite Poem

A Poem By You

Your Office

Your Occupation

Your Career

Your Boss

Who’s The Boss

A Cow Paddy Toss

A Road Trip

Getting A Grip

Letting It Rip

A Sailing Ship

Your Niece

Your Nephew

Your Son

Your Daughter

What Makes You Smile

What Makes You Cry

What Makes You Proud

What Makes You Sigh

Words of Wisdom

Favorite Holiday

Best Thing About Spring

Best Thing About Summer

Best Thing About Fall

Your Favorite Plumber

Best Thing About Winter

Dancing The Night Away

Singing in the Shower

A Bubble Bath

Backyard Bird Bath

Bathing Your Dog

Bathing The Baby

Yes, No, or Maybe?

Catching A Frog

Getting Lost in the Fog

Drinking Eggnog

A Big Hug

Enjoying Company

Enjoying The Quiet

Playing a Game

Starting A Riot

Girl’s Night Out

Your Man And His Truck

Riding A Horse

The Truck Getting Stuck

Day at the Beach

Day at the Lake

Day at the Park

A Casual Clam Bake

Mowing the Lawn

Weeding A Bed

A Nap In A Hammock

Making The Bed

Before School

After School

Riding the Bus

Diving into a Pool

Roasting a Hot Dog

Marshmallow Roast

Grilling a Burger

Wearing Something Yellow

Feeling Kind of Mellow

Watching a Parade

Marching in a Parade

Catching a Wave

Making Lemonade

Caught in the Rain

Jumping in a Puddle

Umbrellas Open and Shut

Football Huddle

Boys Will Be Boys

Sugar & Spice

Girls Having Fun

Everything Nice

Christmas Stockings

Easter Hunts

Thanksgiving Turkeys

Boos, Screams & Grunts

A Wedding

An Anniversary

A Birthday

Money Tree

Bank Of Dad

May Day

School Day

Make Hay

Let’s Play

Sunshine

Clouds

Who’s On First?

Peanuts & Popcorn

Mother Earth

In The Jungle

At The Zoo

Finding Love

Giving Love

Treasuring Love

Lost Loves

Mittens & Gloves

Paper, Scissors, Rock

High School Jock

Knitting A Mitten

Got A New Kitten

Walking The Dog

Did You See A Hog?

Wine Fest

Cheese Fest

You’re the Best

Leaving the Nest

Water Balloon Fight

Starry Night

All Night Crop

Hugging Pop

Watering The Lawn

Stepping Stones

Kidney Stones

Nibbling On Scones

High Tea

High Noon

Watching A Favorite Cartoon

First Date

Learning to Skate

Popcorn and a Movie

Hair In Curlers

Run In Your Hose

Tripping High Heels

Potatoes to Peel

Plain and decorative acid-free papers
Acid-free adhesives
Photo albums, mini-scrapbooks, or journals
Page protectors
Paper punches
Circle or shape cutters
Decorative scissors
Ruler
Craft knife
Scissors
Rubber Stamps
Acid-free inks and inkpads
Acid-free markers and pens
Templates and Stencils
Coloring Tools—pastels, chalks, watercolors, gel pens
Embellishments
Die Cuts
Stickers
Eyelets
Tags
Brads
Fibers, yarns or floss
Buttons
Wood Cut-Outs
Wire or metal
Memorabilia and ephemera

Supplies Needed

Heavyweight Cardstock: This is your background or “base” sheet of paper.
Scraps Of Paper: The more variety the better. Select a color theme and get out your scraps of textured paper, vellums, velveteens, handmade papers, tissue papers and more.
Paper Glue
Paper Cutter or Scissors & Ruler
Pencil
Optional: Rubberstamps, inkpads, sponges, embossing powder and heat tool.

Step-by-Step

1. If you want to use your rubberstamps, stamp images onto scrap papers. If you want to emboss stamped images use pigment ink, embossing powder and heat tool.
2. If you want more color variety you can use a sponge to apply inks directly to the paper. Heat set any ink.
3. Tear scrap papers into smaller pieces no bigger than 1”. You’ll want variety so make different sizes and shapes.
4. Begin to glue torn paper randomly to your background or base paper. Keep gluing until the surface is covered. This is serendipity paper. Allow glue to dry.
5. Cut your serendipity paper into squares for letters, small photos, borders, pockets and other designs for your scrapbook, rubber stamping or card projects. The random pieces all seem to fall into place creating a very unique paper to use for mats and frames too. No two pieces of serendipity paper ever turn out the same!

• Color
• Intensity
• Value
• Line
• Direction
• Size
• Shape
• Form
• Texture

Color

Color is produced when light strikes an object and reflects that light into our eyes. Color is simply the name given to a specific hue such as Peacock Blue or Goldenrod Yellow. Colors are described as warm or cool. Warm colors are yellow, orange and red. The colors of blue, green and violet (purple) are considered cool. Warm or cool colors work well together and combining a warm color with a cool color can help accent or highlight a photo or piece of journaling on a scrapbook page.

Color and color coordination are one of the most important elements of your overall scrapbook design. If you aren’t happy with your color selections you should invest in a color wheel, a handy tool that easily shows colors that work well together. The color wheel is divided into three main categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. These colors are used to create all other colors. By combining two of the primary colors, three secondary colors are formed, orange, green and violet. Combining a primary and an adjacent secondary color on the color wheel makes the six tertiary colors. These colors are red-orange, red-violet, yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green and blue-violet.

What is known and been studied about color theory could and does fill dozens of books. If you want to learn more about color theory you can find additional reading selections in the appendix.

Intensity and Value

Intensity describes the strength of a color. Value relates to how light or dark a color appears. The blue of the sky on a sunny day (light blue) has a different value than the color of the deep blue sea. You want to coordinate your color intensity and value. Most color wheels incorporate these two elements as well as color.

Line and Direction

A line is defined as a continuous mark made on a surface that can vary in appearance. A line can have length, width, texture, direction and curve. The five directions of lines include vertical, horizontal. diagonal, curved and zigzag. You will see lines and directions within your photographs, in borders and frames, within patterns of decorative papers and within the overall finished page.

Shape and Form

A shape is two-dimensional and encloses space. Think of a circle, square, rectangle or triangle. Shape is geometric, man-made or free form. Keep in mind that shapes can have underlying meanings such as an upside-down triangle reminds of to yield or to take notice. You’ll find shapes in your photographs, lettering, fonts, decorative paper patterns, die cuts and other scrapbooking supplies. Forms are three-dimensional shapes, expressing length, width, and depth. Balls, cylinders, and boxes are forms. Make your shapes and forms work towards coordinating and accenting your scrapbooking page.

Texture

Texture is the surface characteristic or feel of an object. Adjectives like smooth, bumpy, shiny, glossy, rough and soft describe textures we see around us. Textures may be “actual” if you include memorabilia on your scrapbook pages or “implied” through your photographs. Texture can add emotion, appeal to our five senses and make scrapbook pages have a dimensional feel.

Size

As you gather all the different photos and create titles and captions for your scrapbook pages you will discover that each may vary in different size or all maybe be relatively the same size. It’s important that you do have different sizes because if your photo, title, memorabilia and journaling are the same size your eye will not know where to start and the page will look flat and boring. You need to blend a pleasing variety on your page.

Space

Although you may want to fill every space on a scrapbook page, you do need some space that is left open or bare. The blank space often helps feature or highlight a photo or journaling. Avoid overcrowding your page, which ends up looking cluttered, and having a too busy feel.

• Contrast
• Proportion
• Balance
• Harmony

Contrast And Proportion

Some contrast must be used on your scrapbook page so that all the parts don’t blend into each other. You are not really emphasizing one part over another, but helping guide the eye through the page so nothing is missed. Often your photo lends to this principal. Let the photo stand out from the title, captions or journaling. The eye first focuses on the photo and then slide down to read the caption. Contrast can be achieved by combining different sizes, shapes, lines or colors. Contrast isn’t meant to distract the eye, but guide it from one element to another on your scrapbook page.

Proportion is the relationship between the size of your photos, memorabilia and journaling and how each is placed on the background paper. Shapes can also play a role. Proportion can be balanced with contrast or unity.

Balance

Balance means to equalize the weight of the elements of design. A formal balance would mean that all the parts of your scrapbook page are of equal weight and are placed symmetrically. Informal balance can be achieved when you vary the value, shape, size and location of your scrapbook parts often creating an asymmetrical design.

Harmony

Harmony or unity gives the sense of all the elements belonging or working together. Your scrapbook page should be viewed or seen, as a whole not just parts thrown on a page. This can be done by not overwhelming a page with too many shapes, lines, colors or textures. Too busy means there is no harmony.

No matter how well any paper or photographic item is stored eventually the item will degrade to the point where it is either prohibitively expensive to repair it or where repair is no longer possible. When this point is reached copying is the only practical way to preserve the material into the future. Although modern copying technology can preserve items otherwise destined to be lost, most copying technologies do not reproduce the original item with total accuracy. Small amounts of definition and clarity are lost each time an image is copied. This loss of clarity becomes more pronounced over several generations of copies, as you may have encountered when you’ve made a copy or a copy. It is not quite the same quality as the original. Digital technology is the only current way to create an exact duplicate of the original, however because digital technology is stored in electro-magnetic media, like VCR tape it is susceptible to the very rapid decay. Despite its limitations, copying is the only practical way for the layman to preserve many items.

• Paper items can be either photographed or copied using a photocopier. The image placed on paper by a photocopier is very stable, however, care should be taken to place the image on good-quality paper. Acid-free paper is a must. Paper marketed as photocopier paper and loaded into most commercial coin operated photocopiers is usually of poor quality.
• When photographic copies of documents or photographs are made care should be taken to select a photographer experienced in copy work. Copy photography is as much an art as a science and an experienced hand will obtain the best copy image.
• Contemporary color photographs of significant importance to a family should be copied about twenty-five years after they are taken in order to preserve their original color hues.
• Material that has been glued in scrapbooks is very difficult to copy. Usually the only solution is to destroy the scrapbook or the scrapbook page in order to make good copies of the items found within the volume.

The First Rule Of Genealogy

The first rule of genealogy is simple: Do not do what can’t be undone. We highly recommend you write that sentence 100 times and then paste it to your Family Heritage Journal. Joking aside, exactly what does this rule mean to you and me as amateur genealogists? Take a look at this list of don’ts.

1. Do not cut or crop any old photos that don’t have a negative. Only cut or crop copies of a photograph.
2. Do not write on a photograph in dark permanent or water-based ink. Water-based inks can bleed or run if wet harming the photograph.
3. Do not laminate any documents or original photographs. You can’t undo lamination without harming or destroying paper or photograph. Make copies and laminate the copy.
4. Do not write or make notes on any paper documents. Even pencil marking that can be erased might harm the document.
5. Do not eat or drink near any documents, photographs or memorabilia. Accidents happen and the result can be permanent damage to your family treasures.

Photos: Black and white photo. Remember that you can have a color photo printed in black and white at your photo processor or on your own computer if you have a photo quality printer.
Tinting Markers or Photo Tinting Kit: These are a special marker designed for coloring on photos. The tints are very subtle. There are several brands available. Some manufacturers have a liquid compound included with the photo tinting kit. Follow manufacturer’s labeling and instructions.

Step-by-Step

1. Read and follow specific manufacturer’s labeling and instructions.
2. Apply liquid pre-tinting solution if applicable.
3. Work one area at a time. Work with one color of marker at a time.
4. Gently rub the marker in a smooth fashion over the area you want to tint/color. You don’t have to push down on the marker.
5. Since the colors are so soft and subtle, you need to “build” color. Go over an area and step back from the photo. Do you want more color? Go over the area again and step back from the photo. Keep “building” layers of the color until satisfied with the final hue.
6. Repeat process for all other photo areas you want to color
7. Allow photo to dry for 24 hours before using or framing.

Tips

• Have your subject wear light clothing with some contrast. Extremely dark colors will appear almost black on the photo print and tint colors will not be detectible.
• Avoid any heavy shadowing in a photo especially around the face. Shoot outdoors or with a flash.
• When photographing people use props as a way to add interest and charm to the photo. Props like hats, dolls or teddy bears or flowers.
• Avoid busy backgrounds.
• Color only the prop or other focal point of the photo.
• Don’t forget that landscapes can be fun to photo tint.

• Know your camera. Read your camera manual and refer back to it if you have any problems. It is very important you know what all the buttons, selections, and features are and what you do to use them. Cameras have settings that help you take better up-close portraits or far-reaching landscapes. Cameras have buttons that adjust for available lighting, from a cloudy day to bright midday sun. By using the available technology, you will be rewarded with better photographs. Once you know how to use your camera, the best advice I can give is to practice as much as you can. This means keeping that camera handy for any and all photo opportunities.
• Create the scene. Do more than aim and click your camera. Take charge and get the photo you want. As you look through the viewfinder, take time to really see what’s going on. Ask people to move closer together for a better shot. Tell Grandpa Ralph to lean slightly to the left or right. Add a prop. Remove a hat. Do whatever it takes to make the photo better, tell a story, or, better yet, make you smile.
• Light might. The most vital part of every photograph you take is the light. It affects the appearance of everything you photograph. Harsh light can make your human or animal subjects squint and grimace. Not enough light results in shadowy darkness in which details can be lost. If the lighting is not right then move yourself or your subject. Check the settings on your camera and adjust for bright light, cloudiness, incandescent, or florescent light and moonlight.
• If you are using a camera with film, film speed also affects the resulting exposure. Knowing you will have a day in bright sun photographing running children calls for a different film speed than a day of indoor flash photography capturing posed family groups.
• Learn when to use your flash to fill in with light and when you should use your red-eye reducer. According to Kodak, the number one flash mistake is taking pictures beyond the flash’s range. Photos taken beyond the maximum flash range will be too dark. As a general rule most cameras have a maximum flash range of less than 15 feet. You can find your flash range in your camera manual.
• Digital cameras will give you options to select indoor and outdoor lighting. It’s important that you select the correct lighting to get the best results.
• Eye to eye. One-on-one eye contact can bring a photograph to life. When taking someone’s photo, remember to get to that person’s eye level. This is especially important when photographing children. You may have to kneel, bend, or hunch, but the effort is worth it. Your subject doesn’t always have to look directly at the camera because by being at eye level you create a personal and warm feeling to the photo.